Psychology-based advice on staying motivated during losing streaks

Every competition enthusiast knows the thrill of a win – the rush of seeing your name as the winner or receiving that congratulatory message. But between those highs, there can be long stretches of silence. You might enter hundreds of competitions and not hear a peep for weeks or months. These “losing streaks” are normal in comping (after all, luck is a big factor), but they can be discouraging. The key to becoming a successful comper is not giving up during these dry spells. This is where psychology can help: by understanding motivation and how to cultivate a resilient mindset, you can keep yourself going until luck swings your way again. In this chapter, we’ll share psychology-based tips for staying motivated, maintaining a positive attitude, and enjoying the comping journey even when you aren’t winning.

Normalise the dry spells – understanding luck and odds

First, it’s important to set realistic expectations. Not winning all the time is completely normal. In fact, if you’re entering a lot of competitions, statistically you will lose far more often than you win. That’s just the nature of probability when hundreds or thousands compete and only one or a few win. Coming to peace with this reality helps you not take losses personally.

As the Loquax Comping Community bluntly puts it: “comping is now an incredibly popular hobby and the odds aren’t always going to be in your favour… some compers record their entries to win ratios and it’s not uncommon to win a prize for say every 1000 (yes, that many) entries you make.” While 1 in 1000 is just an example (your mileage may vary), it highlights that losing is part of the game. When you internalize that it might take hundreds of tries to get a win, each individual non-win bothers you less. You start seeing it as a long-term average game rather than immediate gratification.

Psychologically, this aligns with the concept of “intermittent reinforcement” from behavioural science. Research shows that when rewards are unpredictable and sporadic, people can actually become more motivated to continue the behaviour. This is the same principle that keeps people playing lotteries or slot machines – the chance that this time might be the win releases dopamine (the feel-good brain chemical) in anticipation​. Now, comping is different from gambling because you’re mostly not spending money, but the brain processes the uncertainty similarly. Instead of letting that drive you to frustration, you can harness it positively: realize that each entry has the potential for a happy surprise, even if most won’t pan out. It’s that potential that makes comping exciting.

However, unlike pure gamblers, compers can maintain a healthier grip by focusing on the enjoyment of the hobby itself, not just the outcome. That brings us to the next point.

Focus on intrinsic rewards and the enjoyment of comping

In motivation psychology, intrinsic motivation refers to doing something because you enjoy it or find it fulfilling internally, whereas extrinsic motivation is doing it for an external reward (like money or prizes)​. If your only motivation to comp is extrinsic (winning prizes), losing streaks will be very discouraging – because you’re not getting the payoff for your effort in those times. To stay motivated long-term, it helps to cultivate some intrinsic motivation for comping.

Ask yourself: what do you enjoy about comping besides winning? Is it the fun of answering trivia and learning random facts? The creativity of coming up with slogans or photos? The anticipation and daydreaming about what you might win? The camaraderie of the comping community? Maybe even the satisfaction of filling forms (some people find the process relaxing or satisfying in a way, like completing little tasks).

Try to identify aspects of the process that you find pleasurable or rewarding. For instance, some compers truly enjoy writing creative contest entries because it’s a little creative writing exercise that flexes their brain. Others enjoy the routine of comping – it’s “me time” in a busy day, a chance to focus on something light-hearted. If you lean into these intrinsic rewards, you’ll find that even on days where you don’t win (which is most days), comping still gave you something positive (knowledge, fun, a sense of community achievement like “I accomplished my goal of 50 entries today”).

Psychology Today notes that activities driven by intrinsic motivation are more likely to be continued even when extrinsic rewards aren’t present​. In comping, you do have extrinsic rewards (prizes) but they appear intermittently. So increasing your intrinsic enjoyment buffers you against those times when extrinsic rewards are lacking.

One practical way to do this is to gamify your comping routine. Set little challenges or games for yourself. For example, “I’ll enter five comps before 9pm and then treat myself to a cup of tea,” or “I’ll see if I can find one really unusual competition today as a mini-adventure.” Or keep a points system: give yourself a point for each entry and perhaps reward yourself when you hit 100 points (maybe buy a fancy coffee or allow an hour of guilt-free TV). These self-set challenges make comping itself a game. You’re essentially giving yourself small wins (points, completed challenges) even when actual prizes haven’t come yet. This taps into the idea of self-reinforcement – rewarding yourself to maintain motivation​.

Reframe “losing” as “almost winning” or progress made

How you frame your comping outcomes mentally can affect motivation. Instead of thinking of all those non-winning entries as failures, reframe them as steps towards success. Any lottery or contest is random (or judged subjectively), so not winning isn’t something you did wrong – it’s just the statistical outcome that time. Each entry you make is like buying a ticket in the raffle of future wins: the more tickets you stockpile (over time), the more likely a win will eventually come. So an entry that doesn’t win still served a purpose: it increased your overall chance that one of your entries will hit eventually.

Some compers find it motivating to track how many competitions they entered, focusing on that input rather than the output. For example, “I entered 200 comps this month! That’s 200 chances I’ve created for myself.” The wins will come when they come, but in the meantime you can be proud of the effort and diligence. This aligns with having a growth or process-oriented mindset. In psychology, people who focus on the process or the effort rather than the results tend to stay more motivated and resilient. You can control the process (how much you enter, how well you craft entries), but not the outcome (whether you win). By taking pride in what you can control, you maintain a sense of efficacy and accomplishment​.

Another trick is the “near miss” mindset. In gambling studies, near-misses (like getting two out of three jackpot symbols) often encourage people to keep playing because they feel “so close”. In comping, you might not know if you almost won (unless you see a winner list and your name was nearly drawn or your entry made a shortlist perhaps). But you can still imagine a near-miss positively: “Maybe I was runner-up this time and I’ll snag it next time.” This is a bit of self-deception, but a harmless kind if it keeps you optimistic – just be careful not to let it turn into the gambler’s fallacy of thinking you’re “due” a win after losses​. Each competition is independent, but staying optimistic that your turn will come is beneficial.

Speaking of gambler’s fallacy (the belief that past failures mean a future success is due), it’s good to be aware of it so you don’t fall prey to faulty reasoning. Many people think “I haven’t won in ages, so a win must be around the corner.” Logically, the odds reset each time; the universe doesn’t “owe” a win. However, believing your turn will come can motivate you to keep going, which does improve your chances in aggregate. The difference is subtle: don’t expect a specific win due to past losses, but believe that if you keep playing, eventually you’ll win something because you’re giving yourself many opportunities. It’s a fine line between hope and fallacy, but stay on the hopeful side.

Stay connected and find inspiration in others’ wins

During a losing streak, one of the best motivators can be seeing someone else win – and knowing that they too had dry spells and kept going. That’s where the comping community shines. Rather than feeling jealous, use others’ success as fuel for your own determination. If a fellow comper posts that they won a holiday after 6 months of no wins, that’s proof that persistence pays off.

Many forums have a “I won” or “Winners” thread where people share their victories, big and small. Visiting these can lift your spirits. Loquax even suggests: “gain inspiration and encouragement from other compers who are winning. New wins are posted daily on Loquax in The Winners Post!”​ Seeing those posts can turn envy into energy: if they can win, so can you – but only if you stay in the game.

Also, sometimes reading success stories in media helps. Recall earlier in this guide how Di Coke or Lyndsey or Lola had significant wins​. Remember that these individuals likely entered many, many competitions and had dry spells too. They are now sources of wisdom and proof that the long game can lead to big rewards.

Engaging with the community also gives you emotional support. If you express that you’re feeling a bit down about not winning lately, you’ll often get empathetic responses and perhaps tips from others who were in a slump and how they got through. The shared understanding is comforting – you know you’re not alone and not doing anything “wrong.” Everyone’s luck runs in cycles.

Some compers form small support groups or chat groups (on WhatsApp, Messenger etc.) where they not only share competition links but also cheer each other on and commiserate when needed. This social aspect can significantly buffer the discouragement. Humans are social creatures; feeling part of a group effort can keep you going because you share in collective wins and losses. In a sense, someone in your group winning might feel like a win by proxy and keeps the atmosphere positive.

Use psychological strategies to cope with disappointment

Even with reframing and community support, it’s natural to sometimes feel disappointed, especially if you came so close (like maybe you were notified you were a finalist but didn’t get picked, or you answered a question right but didn’t get drawn). Here are a few psychological coping strategies for those moments:

• Self-compassion: Don’t beat yourself up for feeling bad. Acknowledge that “Okay, I’m a bit gutted I didn’t win this one. That’s normal. But I’ll be okay.” Treat yourself kindly as you would a friend. Maybe take a short break or do an activity that improves your mood (listen to a favorite song, take a walk). Self-compassion has been shown to help people persist after setbacks, as opposed to self-criticism which can demotivate.
• Set micro-goals you can control: When outcomes feel out of control, focus on inputs. For example, goal yourself to “enter 10 comps today” or “find 1 new comp I’ve never seen before.” Achieving these micro-goals gives a sense of accomplishment and progress, which counteracts the feeling of stagnation when no wins are happening.
• Visualise success (within reason): Some people find it motivating to picture themselves winning – like imagining that prize call or what they’d do if they won that car. Visualization is a common technique in sports psychology to boost confidence. It can raise your optimism and energy. However, balance this with realistic expectations (don’t start spending imaginary prize money!). It’s more about staying excited about the possibility of winning, which keeps the dopamine flowing and the activity rewarding, rather than focusing on the absence of prizes right now.
• Recall past wins or positives: If you’ve won before, remember that feeling. It can help rekindle your motivation to know “I’ve done it before, it can happen again.” If you haven’t won yet, recall other benefits you’ve gained: maybe you learned about a new product, or enjoyed a creative entry you made, or simply the fact that you’ve stuck to a new hobby (which shows dedication). Recognize your own growth – perhaps when you started, you knew nothing about comping; now you’re quite knowledgeable. That itself is a positive outcome.
• Limit comparison: While it’s good to find inspiration in others, avoid negative comparison like “They’ve won five times this year and I’ve won none.” That way lies envy and frustration. Remember survivorship bias: winners are more visible (they announce wins), but you might not see the hundreds of others who also haven’t won yet. It’s not a direct competition between compers (there’s a bit of luck competition, but it’s you vs chance, not you vs them in a personal sense). Each journey is unique. Focus on beating your own past – e.g., “I entered more comps this month than last” or “I wrote a more creative entry this time than I would have a year ago.” That is winning in a sense of self-improvement.

Keep it fun and balanced

Ultimately, the strongest protection against burnout or quitting during a losing streak is to keep comping fun. The moment it feels like a dreadful chore or an obsession causing you stress, step back and adjust. It should be a hobby, not a source of misery. Some practical tips to keep it fun:

• Mix up the types of competitions you enter so it doesn’t get monotonous. If you’re sick of forms, do some social media ones for a change (or vice versa). Try a competition for something silly now and then even if you don’t care hugely about the prize, just because it’s amusing (like a funny caption contest).
• Enjoy the little interactions. Sometimes entering comps leads you to engage with interesting content – reading an article to find an answer, or attending a webinar contest, etc. Embrace those experiences instead of just outcome focus.
• Celebrate small wins. Did you get a free sample or instant win a voucher? Even if it’s not the grand prize, treat it as a victory and let it boost you. Share it on forums – people will cheer you on, and that can help psychologically affirm that you’re a winner in the making.
• Take days off. Schedule “no comping” days where you focus on other hobbies or relaxation. This prevents burnout. You’ll often come back more eager. As mentioned, “no reason why you can’t just take a break… They’ll still be plenty of chances to win when you return.”​ (Loquax.co.uk)
• Remember why you started. Was it for a chance at a dream prize? Keep that dream alive (maybe stick a picture of the thing on your fridge as motivation). Was it for the enjoyment? Then double down on making it enjoyable.

The psychological component of comping is often what separates those who stick with it (and eventually rack up wins) from those who drop off after initial disappointment. By applying these mindset shifts and motivation hacks, you’ll be equipped to ride out the dry spells with optimism.

In the long run, consistency fueled by positive motivation will yield results – as many seasoned winners attested, persistence is key​. And even if luck hasn’t knocked on your door yet, you are gaining skills (organization, creativity, knowledge) and perhaps even mental resilience through this process. So really, you can’t lose – every entry is an investment in a possible win and in your hobby.

Now, while maintaining motivation and perseverance is vital, there’s another crucial aspect we must address to ensure your comping journey remains positive: avoiding the pitfalls of scams and fake competitions. Nothing can deflate motivation faster than realizing a “win” was a scam or that you wasted time on a bogus contest. In the next chapter, we’ll arm you with knowledge on how to identify and avoid fake competitions and scams, drawing on UK-specific resources like the ASA and CAP Code so you can comp with confidence and security.

Main image credit: Laithwaites