The Ball's In Your Court

5 Ways to Recover From World Cup Fever
By Pandora Poikilos

One month, once every four years, the words - goal, score, penalty, yellow card and red card carry more weight than usual. Homes are invaded, bosses relax a little and the world in general has a definite news headline, the World Cup.

South Africa 2010 was nonetheless of the most enthralling World Cups ever but still, all good things must come to an end. So, here's how life can go back to what it was before the vuvuzelas became a common household sound.

Get your bills in order
Be it the amazing flat screen, added Pay Tv subscription or numerous football meets to make watching the football matches more exciting, accumulate the costs so you will know how much watching the event actually cost you. For some, we know the figure could be so staggering that they will have a miraculous recovery from the World Cup fever and get to more overtime at work.

Check those emails
For more than a month, almost everything in life has taken a backseat to the World Cup. Emails and letters are no exceptions. They have either left been unopened or opened and not understood. Scroll through your emails. Re-read your letters. Some of it may surprise you. Others may seem completely new to you. Spend your time in providing accurate responses. Days will pass before every single one has received a response.

Go out with friends
There's just one catch to this, for at least three of these outings, steer clear from football friends. Have dinner, watch a movie, go to places you have not been since the World Cup started - anything but World Cup. Some of your friends might have experienced life changing times and this would be a good time just as any to catch up.

Pick a new fascination
You can choose from going speed dating, reading a book, learning to dance, fishing, anything that keeps you happy and doesn't involve football. It will give you something to look forward to and you'll have a new topic to share with your friends.

Sleep
The most important of them all. Between work, daily tasks, live matches, repeat matches, commentaries and in some cases time differences, your body and mind is deprived of sleep. Set aside a day for yourself, relax (without watching football) and just sleep.

If all else fails, consider this as a prepatory retreat for your next World Cup session, Brazil 2014!