Tis’ the season for shopping and love! December is not only the biggest commercial month of the year, it also falls in the middle of peak season for online dating – which for those of you who are curious, typically falls between Halloween and Valentine’s Day. This is the perfect time of year to not only show some love to the people who are already in your life, but also open the door to the possibility of meeting someone special. With that said, this is also an incredibly busy time of year for many of us, so the temptation to combine two different seasonal favorites (shopping and dating, respectively) is high. However, before you take that cutie you met on Match.com to go help you find the perfect gift for your aunt Eartha, here’s five really good reasons why holiday shopping is the worst idea ever for a first date.

1. It’s anything but relaxing –

Have you been in a mall during the holiday season? No, really – have you?! Because it’s pretty much the worst thing ever. Every time I go to my local multi-level mall during the holidays and look at the masses of shoppers being shuttled up and down the escalators, I’m reminded of how much the place looks like an out of control ant farm for humans. Add in the pushing, the shoving and the non-stop Christmas music, and this atmosphere is enough to make even the sanest shopper feel slightly on edge. Why the heck would you want to expose your lovely date to this hot mess?!

Nerves are already running high on a first date, so you should try to pick a date spot that’s as relaxing as possible. I’m sure both of you are probably in need of a reprieve from the holiday madness, so instead of hitting Macy’s half-price sock sale, try grabbing a hot chocolate at a cute cafe, going for a walk to go look at all of the city’s decorations or enjoying a festive drink at a local cocktail lounge – in other words, pretty much anything other than holiday shopping.

2. It’s hard to get to know each other in a crowded mall –

Let’s face it, it’s difficult having a conversation in a overcrowded mall with anyone – let alone someone you are trying to get to know. Think of all the distractions: anxious shoppers, screaming overtired children, frustrated yelling parents – and did I mention the relentless, blaring Christmas music? On a first date you want to be able to ask the other person questions and actually hear their answers. This is almost impossible when you’re in a crowded shopping setting during the holiday season. You shouldn’t have to constantly ask, “I’m sorry, could you repeat that?” or “Pardon me, I was distracted by the sound of this animatronic Elf on the Shelf singing the chorus to Bruno Mars’ Treasure.” (True Story)

3. It’s not romantic AT ALL –

If you think that you’re going to be making flirtatious eye-contact over a bin of half priced festive tube socks, you’re sorely mistaken. One of the main problems with holiday shopping as a first date is that it’s almost impossible to achieve any kind of eye-contact, because most of the time you’re both facing forward; looking at items or trying to navigate the crowd. When you’re trying to get to know someone and establish chemistry, eye-contact is so important. This is why I’m not a huge fan of dates that involve a lot of walking. You want to be able to look the person in the eye, ask them questions and maybe even flirt a bit! Throw in all of the other factors above such as noise, crowds and that singing Elf on the Shelf, and it’s clear that holiday shopping isn’t conducive to making romance happen.

4. You might learn something about your date that you’d prefer not to know –

None of us are perfect. We all have our quirks. However, when we meet someone and eventually fall in love, these quirks become endearing. One of the huge problems with holiday shopping is that it has the potential to reveal these quirks in a “too much, too soon” way. In other words, you may learn something about your date (or vice versa) that is better left until you know each other better – for example, that you have a fondness for cheesy, holiday novelty socks.

5. Things can get weird –

“Holiday shopping brings out the best in me!” – said no one ever. Throw anyone in a high-pressure situation like holiday shopping and you’re bound to see facets of their personality that make you raise your eyebrows. Although you could flip this around and argue that holiday shopping is a good litmus test for someone’s true nature, the truth is that holiday shopping isn’t everyday life. It can bring out the worst in people and test even the most happy couples.

From going ice skating at an outdoor rink, to cozying up at your favourite bistro, there’s so many awesome holiday themed date ideas that don’t involve going anywhere near a mall. Why test fate until you’ve had a chance to get to know each other?