As a newbie, in my opinion, you may start buying some btc right now since the price is relatively low if you want to enter the crypto world. But trading would not be the best choice for you right now since it is bearish.
Same with me, I am a newbie too, especially in trading. But after seeing market movements in 2018 I got the conclusion that in a bearish market the price of bitcoin can move up slowly. Even, at the end of last year the price of bitcoin was very volatile, in one day it could go down to 10% and the next day it could rise up to 12%, a sign that even if a bearish market a trader can get profit. This is just another view so that someone does not judge the bearish market is a condition that must be regretted.