Bill Kirby: The things we do to keep from doing what needs doing

"My evil genius … has whispered me to tarry 'til a more convenient season."

– Mary Todd Lincoln

I was up to my elbows in rosebush thorns.

With the skill of a surgeon and the laser-like focus of a terrier eyeing a dog treat, I was shaping the shrub near the side of the garage door entrance. It is the side where my wife pulls in her car, and only yesterday she had tossed me a compliment on how good the yard has been looking.

So I was at it again, taking my time … ("… snip … snip … ouch … snip.")

I was also avoiding what I should have been doing – getting my mother's cell phone fixed. She had dropped it and, while it still works, she didn't like the way the little display screen now looks.

That means I have to take it to a place where someone a third my age will look at it and say, "Wow, haven't seen one of these in a while," then suggest it be replaced.

And I will say, "Been there; tried that," and the phone store dance is underway.

But I'm not doing that, I'm trimming roses. What can I say?

More from Bill Kirby: When it comes to dry heat, you've got some cool words for it

And: Early morning home invasion includes dogs, a frog and a colander

Well, I say when it comes to work avoidance, I am an expert, a cagey veteran who knows tomorrow is not only another day, but probably a better one.

I should lecture on the subject at prestigious universities.

I could probably tour the country speaking to seminars of efficiency experts.

If I got any better at it, I'd qualify for Congress.

I know all the tricks in the book, and several tricks the editors left out because even editors want to leave something up their sleeves.

Basically, we know the best way to avoid an unpleasant task is to "get busy" with a task that is nice, but not exactly necessary – like clipping shrubbery.

This not only provides a small sense of accomplishment, but is primarily an excuse for not doing what you don't want to do. (If you finish too quickly, I suggest straightening up the hallway linen closet.)

Work avoidance is procrastination's slightly more ambitious cousin. Instead of just putting something off completely and heading to its den with Doritos, it dallies with duties that possibly need doing.

Rationalization takes care of the rest.

What's the good word?: What's the good word? Cool off and let me know

And another from Kirby: Naps have become the 'guilty pleasure' of senior adults

If a work avoidance substitute has a silver lining, it might be momentum – Newton's First Law: Once in action, something stays in action.

Bushes trimmed (check), linen closet arranged (check), now let's get that phone …

If anything, this demonstrates work avoidance has some value because it breaks inertia, and momentum can be that fourth-quarter comeback or that ninth-inning rally that makes success even sweeter.

Not only do you get the bushes trimmed and the closet clean, you figure out the phone (High five!).

So get busy and do something: Rome wasn't burned in a day.

Until then, keep up the good work … and pick your thorny issues carefully.

Bill Kirby has reported, photographed and commented on life in Augusta and Georgia for 45 years.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Do you do what you want to avoid doing what you don't? | Bill Kirby