You’ve been entering like a champ—daily entries, social shares, captions crafted with care—and yet… nothing. The wins have slowed to a halt, and your inbox? Dry as a desert. If you’re starting to feel like giving up, don’t.
Every sweeper hits a dry spell. Yes, even the people who seem to win all the time. It’s part of the game. But the ones who keep going? They’re the ones who eventually win big.
Here’s how to stay motivated when your luck takes a coffee break.
Rule #1: Dry Spells Happen to Everyone
Let’s get this out of the way—if you haven’t won in a while, you’re not doing anything wrong. Sweepstakes are a numbers game. Sometimes the odds just don’t fall your way, and that’s totally normal.
Even seasoned pros go weeks (or months!) with no wins. And then? Bam—multiple wins in one week. That next prize could be closer than you think.
Make the Process the Payoff
When you only focus on the prize, a dry spell can feel defeating. But if you learn to enjoy the process, everything changes.
Scouting new contests
Writing clever captions
Scoring entry streaks
These small actions are wins on their own—and they make the whole hobby more enjoyable.
Switch It Up: New Contests, New Energy
Feeling stale? Time to shake things up:
Try contests from smaller brands or local businesses
Enter skill-based giveaways (caption, photo, or short-answer)
Dive into flash giveaways or instant win games for faster feedback
New formats = new excitement. You might even discover you’re better at creative contests than you thought.
Set Goals You Can Control
You can’t control when you win—but you can control how often you show up. Try these instead of “win-based” goals:
“Enter 15 contests this week”
“Try one new contest type”
“Join a new sweepstakes group”
Checking off those goals feels awesome—and keeps your head in the game.
Track Your Effort (It Matters More Than You Think)
Create a simple sweep log. Log each contest, the date, the prize, and the platform. Why? Because when the wins do come back (and they will), you’ll see exactly what helped make it happen.
It also helps you spot trends—like which types of contests you win the most, or which platforms are most worth your time.
Hype Yourself Up with a Little Motivation
Staying positive during a dry spell takes effort. Here’s how to lift your own spirits:
Make a “Win Board” with screenshots or photos of past prizes
Follow sweepers on social media who share their wins (real proof it works!)
Keep a note in your phone with your favorite sweepstakes memories
Seeing your past success can remind you that good stuff does happen—you just need to keep showing up.
Talk to Other Sweepstakes Fans
You’re not alone. Join a sweepstakes Facebook group, check out Reddit’s r/sweepstakes, or hop in a Discord sweepers community. These spaces are full of:
Encouragement from people who get it
Fresh contests you might’ve missed
Stories that prove the dry spells don’t last forever
A little support goes a long way when motivation is low.
Celebrate Every Milestone
Wins are awesome, but so is hitting 500 entries or finally submitting your first creative contest. Don’t wait for a prize to feel like a winner.
Celebrate:
Entry streaks
New contest formats
Organizing your sweepstakes tracker
Learning a new tip or strategy
Small wins = motivation fuel.
Take a Break (Yes, Really)
Feeling burnt out? Step away for a day or two. The contests will still be there. A short break can clear your head, reset your energy, and make sweepstaking fun again when you return.
Don’t feel guilty—this is your hobby, and you get to enjoy it on your terms.
Final Word: Don’t Quit Before the Win
The hardest part of sweepstaking? Sticking with it when nothing’s happening. But your next win could be one entry away.
So hang in there. Keep it fun. Try something new. And remember, even when the prizes are slow, you’re still in the game—and the next email you open could change your whole day.
