There are few words that evoke as much a rush of pure adrenaline and emotion as "Black Friday." Retailers love the injection of extra holiday revenue, while savvy shoppers spend Thanksgiving dinner making battle plans to ensure they hit every deal and sale on their list.

But for some, Black Friday and the holiday shopping season that accompanies it is nothing but stress. While the financial implications of the biggest shopping day of the year should be obvious, there are also a number of other factors that can put people off to the season, not the least of which being the difficulty of navigating parking lots and shopping centers that are full to bursting.

Not everybody is as enthusiastic about Black Friday as the doorbuster shoppers are, but when it comes to holiday shopping it's a necessary evil. Keep these tips in mind to help make this year's Black Friday as tolerable as possible.

Plan ahead
Rule No. 1 of Black Friday is to have a plan. If you try and wing it, you're going to end up wasting a lot of valuable time. Fortunately, many stores will release information on upcoming sales well in advance, giving you time to take in all the offerings and put a plan together. Knowing where you want to go will help when it's time to decide where to park as well as when to leave. If you're a really serious shopper, you may even want to head to the mall or shopping center ahead of time to do some scouting so you know which stores are near each other. That way when the big day comes, you can divide your group up based on who needs what.

Stick to what you know
While many people are drawn to various retailers by the siren song of major discounts, if you're already a stress-prone shopper it may be more beneficial to you to stick to your well-known options. Familiarity may seem like a minor detail, but in the thick of the Black Friday rush, not having to think about where you're going or which department you need to check for a given item can be the difference between a stressful experience and a fruitful one. Remember that there will promotions, sales and advertisements bombarding you from all sides during Black Friday, but if you can cut down on the noise by sticking to the stores you're familiar with, it can make for a more pleasant experience.

Be firm and communicative behind the wheel
Forget whatever football game is airing Thanksgiving day. Everyone knows the real main event during this season is the battle between you and other motorists for precious parking spots. According to Drop It And Drive, Black Friday is one of the biggest days of the year for auto accidents, so take extra care to be communicative with other drivers. Use your directional blinkers and signal lights if you want to call "dibs" on a parking spot, but also drive defensively – other drivers may not realize your intention and could still try and race you for a prime spot. When in doubt remember that safety is your main concern above convenience, and be prepared to sacrifice that prime spot for one a bit farther away from the door if it means avoiding a traffic collision.

If all else fails, shop online
The habit of retailers slashing their prices on Black Friday has created a tradition – and indeed an ad hoc holiday – out of the beginning of the shopping season. But in recent years, e-commerce has adjusted itself so that Black Friday-like deals are available online as well as in-person. In fact, the Cyber Monday phenomenon is growing so much that it's almost rivaling Black Friday in terms of sales revenue retailers bring in. If you're finding the holiday shopping season too much to contend with, remember that you can still snag some pretty sweet deals from the comfort of your own home, without having to brave the mall parking lot.

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