From Burnout to Breakthrough: My Journey to Building Better Days Apparel

There was a time not too long ago when I felt like I had nothing left to give — not to others, and certainly not to myself.

I was emotionally drained, mentally defeated, and running on empty. Burnout wasn’t just a buzzword for me — it was a daily reality. I dreaded anything that required emotional capacity beyond the basics of getting through the day. The anxiety was constant, and depression crept in quietly but forcefully, magnified by my refusal to slow down and truly take care of myself.

At the time, I was juggling everything. I was working full-time at a nonprofit, running a mental health-focused business, completing my internship, and going to school full-time to earn my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I thought I could carry it all — until my body, mind, and spirit said otherwise.

My breaking point came when I had to admit: I couldn’t do it all. And more importantly, I didn’t have to.

Rock Bottom Looked Like Numbness

Burnout stole more than my energy. It chipped away at my confidence, blurred my passion, and made me question the very things I once felt so connected to. My relationship with my husband suffered. I stopped going to the gym — something I once loved. I avoided friends. I gained weight, not just physically, but emotionally, carrying the heaviness of constantly being everything to everyone but myself.

Even after graduating, I floated through jobs that claimed to support mental health, yet drained me further with unrealistic expectations. I was in survival mode — and the worst part was I didn’t even realize how long I had been living that way. The hustle culture almost killed me — slowly, silently.

Rediscovering Myself

My “aha” moment wasn’t dramatic. It was a quiet, honest realization that I had lost myself — but I wasn’t gone forever.

I rediscovered my passion for people, for therapy, and for the kind of intentional work I had dreamed about since I was a kid. I started taking small, brave steps to come back home to myself. I began healing. Not by jumping into another hustle — but by listening, resting, and remembering what mattered.

Better Days Apparel Was Born From My Healing

Better Days Apparel isn’t just a brand. It’s a reflection of everything I needed to hear during my lowest points.

Every quote, every affirmation, every design is a piece of my healing. They’re messages I wish someone had told me — and now I get to share them with the world. This brand is my way of saying: You’re not alone. You’re not broken. There are better days ahead.

Of course, I had fears. Putting this out into the world meant exposing parts of myself that were still tender. But that’s what mental health is. Vulnerable. Honest. Messy. Real. We don’t grow by avoiding our pain — we grow through it.

A Reminder That You Deserve Better Days

Better Days Apparel is a gentle nudge when you're feeling low. A daily reminder that rest is productive. That setting boundaries is self-care. That struggling doesn’t make you weak — it makes you human.

The most rewarding part has been watching this dream come to life — seeing my creativity and healing stitched into something that someone else can wear and feel seen by.

To anyone struggling with burnout, depression, or simply feeling lost:It’s okay to struggle. But your pain does not define you.Better days are coming. And until then, let’s wear the reminder — together.

Anibel Hamilton, Founder