If there’s anything the last two years have taught us, it’s the importance of making your health a priority. While the Bryce Jordan Center during THON Weekend isn’t the ideal place to have a top-tier self-care experience, sometimes it’s about making the best of the situation.

So, I took matters into my own hands and did my best to ~treat myself~ to as close to a normal self care routine as I could if I were back home.

To be honest, I don’t know if I was even allowed to smuggle bring these in with me during my THON shift, but I guess it’s too late considering I already did.

First, I found the closest bathroom in the BJC to go brush my teeth. I whipped out my trusty baby toothbrush and toothpaste. I could feel the judgmental and confused stares from the other people in the bathroom. Naturally, I ran out after five seconds because I felt self-conscious.

What’s amazing, though, is that I could be brushing my teeth at midnight or at 3 p.m., and I’ll never really know the difference. Remember, time is a social construct and doesn’t exist…especially at THON.

After sprinting my way back to press row, I decided it was time to give my face a much-needed cleanse. But first, I reapplied deodorant and hand sanitizer. Spreading germs and unpleasant smells is a no-go, folks.

Look at how perfectly all my products go together. It’s like they’re a little family.

Actually, before I started my skin care routine, I drank a moderate amount of water to stay hydrated. One of the keys to hydrated skin is drinking some H2O.

Next, I used a cotton ball as a preliminary cleanser to wipe the oil and dirt off of my face before using my face wash. The world is an extremely dirty place. Onward State associate editor Ryen Gailey served as my photographer for my pampering session.

After that, I washed my face using the Cetaphil cleanser. Real ones don’t mess with that CeraVe crap. At least 75% of the product came out of the bottle and spilled on my jeans. Thankfully, no one else saw, but I will actually never forget this moment. I had to use almost the entire bottle of cleanser on my face. Not. good. folks.

I made sure to get my entire face clean, and after I finished my entire skin care routine, my mask went back over my nose like the way it should be.

Then, I followed up an almost whole travel-size bottle’s worth of cleanser with a more reasonable amount of moisturizer. Clearly, I’m distressed by how things have happened. Finally, I closed out my skin care routine with another face mask. Double masking, eh?

While I might look comfortable and zen from this angle, I have never been more terrified of myself than I have in this next picture. It’s giving Michael Myers.

After I finished my face mask, my skin care routine was complete just in time for me and my friends to do the line dance. I took a few dance classes in my day, but clearly, I need to revisit because I’m struggling. Thankfully, it’s still early enough, so I should have it down in a few hours.

Who says you can’t have fun on press row? Moving your body is just as important at THON, too, especially if you’ve been confined to the stands while holding up your orgs letters or aren’t on the end of a row to move your body freely.

No matter how you choose to take care of yourself at THON, it’s simply important that you do. Whether you’re there for a few hours or all 46, you’re bound to grow tired at some point, and you need things to make those harder moments more bearable.