Advice for today

A colleague of mine just stopped by my desk. We discussed a project and then, as is predictable on a Friday afternoon, our conversation turned to random ramblings. At the end, I was left with this advice on how to avoid awkward interactions with people in the hallway: 'Always carry a prop and pretend something outside is really interesting. '
In our office, we have long hallways that are in many ways confrontational. You're walking along, usually on your way to the kitchen or bathroom and then a co-worker starts walking towards you on their way to the kitchen or the bathroom. Inevitably, there will be a moment when you make eye contact with the person coming towards you and possibly smile and nod at them but then realize that you still have a long way until the two of you actually meet and cross paths. Then, there is a moment of panic when you don't know if you should look away or keep staring the person down. If you look away, you can't really look back at them again so where do you look?
That's where the previously stated advice comes in. If you are always carrying some papers or a notebook - a prop -you will have something to look at. You never have to may eye contact with anyone. Just always stare down at your work. (This option is a bit strange if you are going to the bathroom because then you have to deal with the awkwardness of the prop in the bathroom.) The other option is to look out the windows across the cubicles and pretend that something outside is really interesting. This is pretty easy since all of the windows either look out onto Michigan Ave or onto the lake. Often, you can get the other person to look outside as well and wonder what in the world is so amazing.
So, there you have it. Very useful advice on a Friday afternoon.