Just about every workplace has distractions-coworkers, social networking, email, and for some, even kids. You may be at your most productive without these little time wasters, but at some point, you’ve got to deal with them if you want to get some work done. You may be tempted to push them away, but what seems like a burden may actually be of use to you.

The key to managing distractions is to find a way to satisfy your needs and make them work for you. If you find yourself wanting to socialize online, make the work emails you send a little more friendly. When one of your coworkers stops by to chat, turn the discussion to work and ask them for help on a project. You can even turn your kids into helpers-if they’re interested in what you’re doing, they can work on an age appropriate task, like stapling or sorting papers for you. Redirecting distractions in this manner is valuable, because it creates productivity for you while at the same time sending a message to others that you’d like to be focused on the task at hand.

The Internet is an especially distracting place for many employees, and depending on your workplace’s policies, can even lead to disciplinary action when misused. But not all distractions online will keep you from your work. Listen to online radio with headphones as a motivator, or if you’re allowed, stream your favorite TV shows in the background to keep you focused on work instead of stopping to read the latest on Facebook.

Social networking is also an online pitfall. If you find yourself frequently checking Twitter, think about how you can make this habit a positive, productive use of your time. Don’t just follow your friends-pay attention to industry leaders, resources, and others that can provide valuable insight into your work.

By looking at distractions in a creative light, you’ll find that you can keep them from interfering with your productivity, while at the same time turning the distractions into tools that can help you get your work done. Here are a few tips for keeping distractions in check.

• Monitor your time
• Send a clear message that you are focused and work-oriented
• Always think about how you can make a distraction useful
• Disconnect if you need to
• Tell other people about your deadlines and commitments
• Delegate and ask for help

This guest post is contributed by Angela Martin, who writes on job search  topics.  She welcomes your email comments: angela.martin77@gmail.com.