all the contests I joined before I tried to approach it in a way that I knew I could win or lose
trying to keep expectations low so I don't get frustrated with "wasting time"
I think with contests it's more about the process than the outcome.
Right if you are participating in some contest then you should hope for winning it and have competitive spirit among yourself keeping up your motivation levels and whatever the outcome is accept it.This is contest and some win some loose but it doesn't mean you wasted your time because you are learning and being creative with each art contest.So best is to try instead of giving up and saying it's waste of time if you don't win.