Unrated vs Rated

When I play non-tournament games and play to improve rating not for a tournament but in general I can't focus compared to when I play tournaments why?

So when I play games for fun on chess.com still rated but not as serious I don't do well.
When someone is hosting a event on chess.com where you play I do much better why?

Consider what motivates you and what demotivates you -- this is a personal thing.  For other people it may be the exact opposite effect.  Maybe you don't feel like pushing yourself, for some reason, when it's not an official event...

Hmm okay what about how do I make it motivate me?

The answer to that question depends on what drives you.  For example, if you're excited about X, and you find a way to do X as part of Y, this will motivate you to do Y.

Does a good learning experience without much stress (or high stakes) motivate you?  It does for me, for instance.

I personally think a more competitive setting and high stakes pushes me to play better