You might want to look into "inverse short etf's". I personally don't invest in them because it requires a sizable position to make meaningful profit, and timing is very hard.
I understand what you're getting at, but this this horrible advice to the OP. Timing is not just "very hard", is extremely difficult, arguably approaching impossible depending on who you ask. I guarantee for the investor at the level of asking "What should I do in times of recession?" market timing IS impossible.
