The Church of England has taken the unprecedented step of taking out advertising space in a major newspaper to soothe commuters travelling into work this morning, as schools and workplaces get back to the daily grind after the summer holiday season.
Today marks the start of a new season in the workplace and at home, too, according to a new ICM poll.
A survey conducted for the Church of England has found that September heralds a heap of extra pressures for many, with one in three expressing a desire to make changes to improve their lifestyle this autumn, and a similar number stating concerns about their working lives.
The poll of more than 1,000 working UK adults suggests that one in three people are expecting work to be "very busy" over the coming months, and as many as one in eight are "dreading" the prospect of returning to a new season at work.
The survey reveals that people in the South East appear to be the most stressed out as September kicks in, with 37 per cent anticipating an extra-busy period at work and 35 per cent planning significant improvements to their lifestyle, while the more relaxed Wales and South West reports 30 per cent and 25 per cent respectively.
Four in ten 18 to 24-year-olds are planning a lifestyle improvement, such as more regular gym trips, suggesting that September may indeed be the 'New New Year' for younger people. Eighteen per cent of women said they are craving the routine that returns with September, while only 12 per cent of men agree.
The results have moved the Church to issue a new prayer on its website, and publish it in a quarter page colour advertisement in Metro, a free daily morning newspaper distributed to around 1.4 million commuters each day.
The prayer asks for God's help in dealing with everyday concerns of home and professional life, including "love life issues, bills to pay, delicate egos at work to deal with, and an overflowing inbox". It encourages weary commuters to relish every moment of every day as a gift from God, rather than seeing every day life as a challenge to conquer.
