The Relatability of “Messy”

If you’re on certain corners of the internet, it might feel like “Messy” by Lola Young has been inescapable over the past few months. If you haven’t heard the bop, I for one think it’s worth a listen.

What struck me from the first time I heard the song was how ADHD-coded the song is, and how it reminded me of comments I often hear in executive function coaching sessions. I know Young has commented on some of the inspirations for her lyrics in the song, which can be interpreted from multiple perspectives, and its relatability extends outside of neurodivergent spaces as well. (It did make me laugh however when she proposed that perhaps one doesn’t need to put on clean socks EVERY day. If I said I haven’t heard similar sentiments from clients, I’d be lying).

Yet it’s undeniable that many young adutls struggling with executive dysfunction recognize the push and pull of perfectionism from one’s self (or from friends/family) penned in the song lyrics, and the struggle for consistency that can make having ADHD sometimes feel like a roller coaster. One moment, you’re rereading a passage for the seventh time, trying desperately to focus, and in another, the hyperfixation is in drive, and you’re so immersed that you maybe forget to plan or make anything for dinner. If nothing else, the song is an undeniable, and relatable, hit.