· By Justine Vallata
Decision Fatigue Is Real: Why Having Less Choice Can Actually Increase Pleasure
Imagine walking into an ice cream shop with 75 flavours.
At first, it sounds amazing.
Then you start reading.
Salted caramel. Hokey pokey. Cookies and cream. Pistachio. Birthday cake. Peanut butter swirl.
Ten minutes later, you're still standing there wondering if you've made the right decision.
Sound familiar?
Psychologists have a name for this.
Decision fatigue.
It's the mental exhaustion that happens when we're faced with too many choices, and it's something most of us experience every single day.
Whether we're scrolling Netflix, choosing a restaurant, buying skincare... or trying to buy our first vibrator.
(Image source: The Decision Lab)
Why More Choice Doesn't Always Make Us Happier
For years we've been told that more choice equals more freedom.
But research suggests the opposite can happen.
The more options we're given, the more likely we are to:
- overthink
- second-guess ourselves
- delay making a decision
- worry we've chosen the wrong thing
- leave without choosing anything at all
Psychologists even have a name for it: the paradox of choice.
Instead of feeling empowered, we become overwhelmed.
And when the purchase is something personal, like a pleasure product, those feelings can become even stronger.
(Image source: The Decision Lab)
Buying Your First Sex Toy Can Feel Surprisingly Intimidating
We hear it all the time.
"I have no idea where to start."
"What if I buy the wrong one?"
"What's the difference between all these toys?"
"I don't know what I'll like."
These aren't unusual questions.
They're exactly what happens when someone who has never shopped for pleasure before suddenly finds themselves choosing between hundreds of products.
Bullet.
Rabbit.
Suction.
Air pulse.
Internal.
External.
Before you've even added anything to your cart, you've convinced yourself you need to become an expert.
No wonder so many people close the browser.
The Real Goal Isn't Choosing the Perfect Toy
Here's something we think gets forgotten.
Your first toy doesn't need to be perfect.
It just needs to be the beginning.
Pleasure isn't something you optimise from day one.
It's something you discover over time.
Trying to choose the "perfect" vibrator before you've even explored your own preferences is a bit like trying to pick your favourite cuisine before you've travelled anywhere.
You don't know yet.
And that's completely okay.
What Happens When Someone Else Makes the Decision?
Now imagine something different.
Instead of comparing dozens of products...
The decision has already been made.
Instead of asking,
"Which one should I buy?"
You're asking,
"I wonder which one I'm going to get?"
Notice how different those two questions feel.
One creates pressure.
The other creates excitement.
Anticipation Is Part of Pleasure
Most people think pleasure starts when you turn the toy on.
We'd argue it starts much earlier.
It starts when you're curious.
When you're excited.
When you feel that little flutter of anticipation waiting for something to arrive.
Psychologists have long known that anticipation activates the brain's reward system.
Sometimes, looking forward to something is almost as enjoyable as experiencing it.
That's why we:
- wrap presents
- love surprise holidays
- watch mystery movies
- buy lucky dips
- open blind boxes
The unknown isn't stressful when it's designed to be fun.
It's exciting.
Image: Remember the trill of a lucky dip?
The Magic of Letting Go
There is something incredibly freeing about letting go of the need to make the "right" decision.
Especially when it comes to pleasure.
Instead of analysing specifications...
Reading endless reviews...
Wondering whether something is too powerful...
Too small...
Too quiet...
Or not quiet enough...
You simply allow yourself to experience something new.
That's a very different mindset.
It's playful.
It's curious.
And it's a reminder that pleasure doesn't have to be perfectly planned.
Image: That's The Spot Surprise, a pleasure Blind Box for adults
That's Exactly Why We Created That's The Spot Surprise
When we started dreaming about That's The Spot Surprise, we realised something.
People weren't just overwhelmed by products.
They were overwhelmed by choice.
So instead of asking people to become experts before they even begin, we wanted to create something different.
A buying experience that felt nostalgic.
Playful.
Exciting.
One where opening the box becomes part of the experience, not just something you do before using what's inside.
Because pleasure isn't only about what happens afterwards.
It's also about:
- the curiosity
- the anticipation
- the excitement
- the surprise
- the smile when you open the box
The journey matters just as much as the destination.
Sometimes Less Really Is More
We often think removing choice means removing freedom.
But sometimes it removes something much more valuable:
Pressure.
When we take away the fear of choosing wrong, we make space for curiosity instead.
And curiosity is a wonderful place to begin.
Final Thoughts
If you've been putting off buying your first pleasure product because you're overwhelmed by the options, know this:
You don't need to know everything.
You don't need to find the perfect toy.
And you definitely don't need to become an expert before you begin.
Sometimes the best thing you can do...
Is stop trying to make the perfect decision.
And start enjoying the experience.
Image: That's The Spot Surprise will take the guesswork out of pleasure.
Ready to Take the Guesswork Out of Pleasure?
That's The Spot Surprise was created for anyone who's ever stared at page after page of pleasure products and thought, "I have no idea where to start."
With six body-safe, beginner-friendly collectibles to discover, it transforms shopping from an overwhelming decision into an experience full of curiosity, excitement and surprise.
Because sometimes the most exciting part of pleasure... is not knowing exactly what's inside the box.
