Falling behind in a race doesn’t stop the race. Your job is the next lap, not the gap.

Attention spent on the distance between you and the leaders is attention taken away from the running. The gap is a fact you cannot act on directly, while the next lap is something you can do something about right now. Races get lost twice, once by the deficit and once by looking at it. Only one of those two is avoidable.

Cut the comparison for a week and work only on your own next piece. Do not check who is ahead in the gradebook, in the standings, in the group chat. Then look up at the end and see whether being behind cost you less than watching it would have.