NOW I’M FREE TO BE MY BEST SELF

Claire Macklin, 50, is a life coach (clairemacklincoaching.com) and lives in Bristol with sons Laurie, 18, and Fraser, 16

When I heard divorce rates were up 10per cent I wasn’t surprised – I split up with my husband of six years last summer.

We had been growing apart for a while, but because I had a busy social life and we both ran our own businesses, we got by OK. When the pandemic hit, we were suddenly in the house together all day every day, and it was hard to get along.

In summer 2021 we went on holiday and argued constantly. I knew it was time to end the relationship.

Even though I’m a life coach, I felt scared about what the future would hold after we divorced, and was worried people would judge me for not being able to stay married.

In the early days, it was hard. I was grieving for the good times we’d had together, and the future we imagined for ourselves.

To get through the hard days, I focused on simple things like having a good daily routine, doing exercise, getting enough sleep and eating healthy food.

Gradually it got easier, and now I know

I made the right decision. Being free to be myself will always be better than struggling in an unhappy marriage.