If you're reading this, you already know about Black Friday as a shopping event. What you may not know is how much work goes into making sure you don't have to endlessly scroll through pages of false deals and marketing nonsense to get to the things that are actually worth buying.
As a junior writer, I was obsessed with tech and sharing what I thought was cool with the world. Black Friday was a great time to upgrade something in my house for cheap. Now, 15 years of experience later, I am CNET's Director of Shopping Content because I like making sure our audience is able to spend money on things that will actually improve their lives.
To make that happen, my team and I spend the entire month of November preparing for this event. Here are a couple of things I rely on to make it through the month intact.
1. Caffeine
There are many flavors of Alani Nu I like, but the holiday versions are always a fun treat. Russell Holly / CNET
You'd be hard-pressed to find a tech writer who isn't at least a little caffeine-obsessed, and we've all got deep opinions on what the best way to get caffeinated is. I'm not really a coffee person, which means most days you'll find me at my desk with a cup of tea. For Black Friday, however, I need something a little stronger.
I am personally a fan of Alani Nu energy drinks, and this time of year, there's usually a holiday flavor to enjoy. This year it's called Winter Wonderland, and it tastes like cranberry and sugar plums. These cans are 200mg each, so if you don't usually consume a lot of caffeine, be careful.
2. A good pair of headphones
Russell Holly / CNET
You won't usually find me at my desk without my headphones on, but I tend to work weird hours this time of year, so my headphones become even more important. If I'm working while my partner is asleep, there's a good chance I have The Lord of the Rings on in the background while the Roku app sends the audio straight to my ears. I get to enjoy the background ambience of my favorite movie trilogy, and no one else in the house ever hears a thing.
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