How To Beat Sweepstakes Burnout and Stay Motivated to Win Prizes

At some point, just about every sweeper experiences it – the crippling feeling that Lady Luck is gone for good, that you're wasting your time, and that you'll never win another prize again. Oh, no, it's contest burnout!

In my experience, contest burnout always hits hardest right before a big win - as long as you don't let it get to you, and give up. Here are some tips to help you keep plugging away and revitalize your love of contesting!

1.Enter More, Not Less
If you can, try to talk yourself into entering more contests, not less. The number one cure for contest burnout is to win a prize, even if it's just a little win like a baseball cap or a t-shirt. Try to add some contests to your daily regime that have especially good odds. For more information, see:

•!Best Sweepstakes to Enter

2.Enter Instant Wins
Instant win contests are a great way to fight contest burnout, because they notify you right away when you win a prize. You don't have to wait for the entry period to finish and a name to be drawn. I always add a good number of instant wins to my daily entries, to keep my enthusiasm levels high.

3.Enter Creative Contests
Creative contests not only let you express your inner writer, chef, or photographer, but they also have significantly higher odds of winning a prize. They're a little more interesting than just filling out another entry form, and the prizes can be huge.
•Why Enter Creative Contests?

4.Read About Wins
You can't always count on getting a win when you need it most, but you can read about the good fortunes of others. There's nothing like hearing about someone who hit a big prize just when he or she was about to give up to motivate you to keep going! Some places to look for winning stories include:

•Read About Wins

5.Shake Up Your Entries
Sometimes you just can't stand to enter the same contest day after day. Give yourself to cut back on your dailies or to swap them out for new contest. Try entering at a different time of day or from a different location, if you have a laptop computer available. Shaking up your entry process can make entering fun again. Here are some different types of contest to enter:

•Contest Listings by Category

6.Try Entering for Different Prizes
If you've been concentrating on winning only large contests, try entering some smaller, lesser-known contests. You'll have less competition, and your chances of winning will be higher. Those small prizes can really keep you motivated to win.
7.Have More Fun
Sometimes, the key to staying motivated is just to have more fun with the entry process. You might want to try decorating your computer desk with lucky symbols or one of my other tips to improve your luck.
8.Take a Short Break
If all else fails, give yourself permission to take a break. Remember that contesting is a hobby, and it's meant to be fun. If you're not enjoying yourself, you need a break. Just be sure to stay active in your favorite contest sites and forums, to ensure that you won't give up for good