Day 36: Does Warm Milk Help You Sleep

Between You, Me and the Lamp Post

Day 36: Does Warm Milk Help You Sleep

Last night was one of those nights again ... tossing and turning and waiting for the sandman to come. I felt perfectly tired when I went to bed and I expected to fall asleep the moment my head hit the pillow, but once under the duvet, I was wide awake.

Are you one of those lucky people who fall asleep the moment they lie down? Many people have problems falling asleep, or suffer from another form of insomnia where they wake up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep again. An old remedy for sleeplessness other than counting sheep is drinking a cup of warm milk. But does warm milk really help you sleep, or is it a myth?

Urban legend has it that warm milk is sleep-inducing because it contains the enzyme tryptophan. This is the same enzyme that is found in turkey meat and that is credited with lulling people to sleep after a big Thanksgiving dinner.  However, studies have shown that it’s not the turkey meat that makes you sleepy, as you would have to consume 40 pounds of the meat for the tryptophan to have any effect.

If you’ve been tossing and turning, and you eventually get out of bed to warm up some milk, you’ve taken the first step in the right direction, getting up. Going to the kitchen to warm up something relaxes your brain because you’re no longer concerned about falling asleep. While you wait for the milk to warm, your mind relaxes even more, thus preparing you for sleep. Making a cup of herbal tea would have the same effect because it’s the warmth that gives you comfort. People often discover that once back in bed, they can fall asleep even before they’ve taken one sip of the milk.

Further studies have shown that although tryptophan can help with the first phase of sleep, it can interfere with the remaining sleep phases. Tryptophan, when taken in conjunction with high protein foods such as milk, can decrease the chances that the enzyme even reaches the brain.

If you find it hard to fall asleep, it’s a good idea to reach for foods rich in carbohydrates. While it’s not recommended to have a big meal before going to bed, never go to bed hungry either. Mix protein foods with carbohydrates to encourage the brain to produce a calming hormone called serotonin. Good choices would be a slice of whole-wheat toast topped with a slice of low-fat cheese or one banana combined with a teaspoon of peanut butter.

Any number of details could be to blame for preventing you from falling asleep. Stress, the room’s temperature, too much light, an uncomfortable mattress or even an overly fluffy pillow can cause insomnia. There are companies that specialize in making sleep aid products. They manufacture eye masks, pillows, herbal teas, and natural sleep-promoting supplements to fight your insomnia.

Does warm milk help you sleep? Not really, but the routine of preparing something warm is enough to relax you.

Are we our own worst enemy?

I’m in a slump. Those of you who know me know that I took up coloring in December of last year. Alex, a long time friend drew my attention to this hobby as a way of relaxation and a cure for insomnia.

Relaxation and a cure for insomnia? … that’s all she had to say, I had to try this as I’m frequently stressed and toss and turn for hours in bed.

I got myself a book and some pens and got started. And I found that Alex was right, almost immediately I felt a lot calmer, slept better and found tremendous joy in coloring.

Ten months down the line all that has changed.

Theodore Roosevelt said “Comparison if the thief of joy” and I found this to be quite true. Since starting the coloring hobby I joined three coloring groups on Facebook and when I compare my work to some of the colorings I see I get depressed. Others’ work is so much better than mine.

Some say that coloring is not a competition, and I know that, but I’ve always expected the best of myself. I also know that some colorists are professionally trained and my work can’t be as good as theirs, but I want at least to see an improvement in my colorings.

Alex will shake her head over this and say that I should just color for my own enjoyment, but that’s just it, I don’t find joy in coloring anymore, only frustration.

Someone in the group mentioned that if we could be half as considerate of ourselves as we are of others, we would be happier. And this is true, why do we have to be so hard on ourselves?

This reminded me of what a Canadian ten-pin bowling coach ones said to me … “When we miss a spare we berate ourselves with “How could you miss that!” … “How could you be so stupid!” … and more of such critical words. When a teammate missed a spare we say … “Oh don’t worry about it, you’ll get next time.”

Are we our own worst enemy? 

www.connymanero.weebly.com

Adult Coloring Books by Cynthia Kloeter

Are you coloring yet? While some people consider coloring a kids’ activity, millions of others disagree and have taken to coloring like ducks to water.

Publishers of these books couldn’t be happier and state that these books are flying off the shelves. That they’ve never seen anything like it. While adult coloring has been around for years, in recent months it has exploded into something anyone and everyone wants to be a part of. One publisher stated that one of the books is in its 16^th reprint.

Other artists prefer not to enlist the help of a traditional publisher and self-publish their work. And why not, they have creative freedom and don’t have to share the profits with an agent and a publisher.

One such artist is my friend Cynthia Kloeter and you can find all her coloring books on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_12?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=cynthia+kloeter+coloring+books&sprefix=cynthia+kloe%2Cstripbooks%2C155&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Acynthia+kloeter+coloring+books

Whether you like flowers, eggs, gems or garden designs, Cynthia has you covered.

What many like about Cynthia’s work is the size of her works. Her drawings are big with bold lines, perfect for people who have less than 20/20 vision.

In Cynthia’s own words, about “The Power of Flowers” …

The perfect book to help you relax and heal your soul through the use of relaxing coloring. This book is suitable for all ages and skill levels. The ideal book for art therapy. This book contains 30 easy to color design. They also are perfect for those wishing to enrich their shading & blending skills. Perfect for markers as each design is printed single sided. There is also a Protection Page that can be torn out and used between the pages to prevent marker bleed. Color testing page added at the back of the book. All illustrations are hand drawn.

Whether you’re a man or a woman, 21 or 81, an accomplished colorist, a beginner, or looking for an original present (Christmas is coming up) … have a look at Cynthia’s work and you too might find peace and relaxation in coloring.

These are some of her finished creations …

www.connymanero.weebly.com

Adult colorings special edition - Gwendolyn Franklin

Gwendolyn Franklin makes my blogging life real easy. I don’t have to write anything about her because she does a splendid job telling it herself. This blog entry is a special edition because Gwendolyn isn't only a coloring artist, she is an artist in the true sense of the word. When you see her original works, I think you'll agree.

Gwendolyn says:

I was born in Lincoln, Ne. My Dad joined the military before I was born and we got to in S. Carolina and Alaska before getting sent back to Nebraska. 

I've lived in the Omaha Ne area since my family moved here when I was 7. When I was young, my Mom had always done ceramics with us. When I was in Jr. high, mom started selling Artex. This was paint that came in tubes with tips that the paint would come through, and you used them to paint on fabric that pictures were preprinted on. So I guess you could say art has always been in my life in one form or another. 

I became a mother myself just before I turned 20, and my daughter and I lived with my parents for a few years, then moved into our own apartment where it was just the 2 of us.

It was then that I started school for interior design. One of the required classed was an intro to art class. Before this class, my pictures that I'd casually drew were a little child-like. I'd never had any classes and never thought I'd be good at it. After completing the class, I was amazed with what I could do.

I continued drawing on my own over the next couple years before I decided to apply to a commercial art school. I wish I had stuck with the interior design classes because there would have been a lot more job opportunities in that field. 

Over the next several years, I held down many part or full-time jobs to make a living, but nothing that I loved doing like the art. I just couldn't seem to break into that field. Eventually, I got a full-time position at a high school with a good school district.

I met my husband in 2007 and we married 2 years later. 

Currently, I work with the support staff at an elementary school. 

About a year and a half ago, my husband and I bought our first house. After we moved in I kept thinking about my art. A friend and I decided to go to one of those places where you can have some wine and paint pictures in a casual class. We had so much fun that I began finding little painting projects at home. I was finally painting again.

I started painting small, paper mâché boxes. I had another friend at work who saw one of them and asked to buy it. From there it started taking off and expanded into larger keepsake, jewelry and prayer boxes. Recently I've been asked to do a few canvas portraits and landscapes. 

I got into coloring books a few months ago. I've been dealing with stress and headaches and it was a way to relax my mind and de-stress at work on my breaks. I started with mandalas and I think those are still my favorite to do. 

I also love reading and love listening to audiobooks when I'm working alone I listen to a lot of different genres, but my favorite is humorous fantasy. I love a great story with goofy and sarcastic humor. 

My husband and I absolutely love going to anything that can be considered a carnival or festival. Things like Art or State fairs, or festivals like Octoberfest or Greek days will bring out the little kid in both of us. Live music and dancing is a favorite activity too. 

We have 3 children, 2 grandchildren and 2 cats. Since we're empty nesters, these 2 angels are more like our babies. At least we talk to them as if they were our children. 

Here's a picture of our 2 cats. We adopted them from the humane society a few months after buying our house. These 2 had bonded from birth and the NHS were hoping they wouldn't be separated. We fell in love with them, and these 2 angels chose us too. They sat up and started watching us closely from the moment they saw us. 

This photo was taken after we'd coaxed them out of hiding with toys. Their names when we got them were Layla (black one) and Tayla (tabby) and we never got around to officially renaming them. I usually call them by funny nicknames because they make me laugh with their outrageous antics. 

Take a look at some of Gwendolyn’s work:

Original pieces

 Colorings

Adult Coloring - Kathy Garner

Kathy Garner is a rather interesting individual. She’s a professional nurse, but also a part-time dance instructor. Now this combination has its perks … should anyone get hurt during dancing, help is immediately on hand.

If that isn’t enough, Kathy is also a makeup artist and of course a coloring enthusiast. She only started coloring six weeks ago, to help her cope with stress as she says.

Coloring helps her clear her mind after a hard day of coping with the problems of various patients.

Kathy is originally from the Philippines, but currently resides in Toronto, Canada, with her husband and six year old son.

Adult Coloring - Dora Johnson

Dora Johnson doesn't like talking about herself, In one little sentence she shares that she's been together with Jim for 22 years and married to the man for 15.

But ask her about her pets, and you’ll get a fountain of information.
Her niece found a turtle in the garden and Dora gave him a home.

Another day she found a cat sitting on the engine of the car, and he too was invited in.
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Apparently word got around in cat world, because a short time later two kittens came wandering into her yard and joined the family along with a cat that had to be rehoused from her brother’s place.

When Dora isn’t taking care of the cats and the turtle, she goes to school where she recently graduated with an Associates degree and continues studying for a Bachelors degree. She enjoys reading, building freaky style bicycles, going for rides with her bicycle group through Michigan and Canada, does afghan crocheting and of course coloring.

When looking at Dora’s coloring, I’ve come to the conclusion that she has a) an abundance of patience, and b) very good eyesight. Not to mention talent to make these stunning creations.
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Just look at her colorings …
 

Buy adult colorings by various artists at:

http://adultcolorings.weebly.com/