At the top of your list should be the kitchen. It will most likely be the first room beyond your bathroom that you visit in the am and should be the main room you put to rights before heading for bed.

Wash all of the dishes. Run the dishwasher if necessary and clear off and wipe down the counters and stove. If you're feeling extra motivated set your breakfast preparations such as cold cereal, the bowls and cups you will use and the utensils out.

Sweep and mop up any spills on the floor. Taking care of the kitchen will alleviate about half of your morning chaos. There is no research to back up this claim but it's true enough in my home.

In our home we make good use of the dining table. It must be in our genes because even among the members of our extended family we all tend to read the newspaper, books, do paperwork and what have you at the dining table. So cleaning off the dining table is on my evening list of to-do's each night. Corralling the papers, wiping up food spills, and setting the chairs in. It's simple enough but if I neglect it I tend to be irritated come morning.

Do you have children? Have them help you put away their things if their small. If they're bigger then make sure they take care of this. Have it become a nightly habit. Five minutes to pick up toys, papers, clothing. Put it where it belongs. Our little toddler is 2 as of this writing and we do this with her each night. Help mommy and daddy put away the toys. She seems to enjoy it. Go figure.

Straighten up the other areas of your home that get a good workout during the day. The family room, bathroom.

Get your clothes out for tomorrow. If you have little ones get theirs out too. Write up a small to-do list for the next day.

These are just a few items and take no time at all to accomplish but having them done brings great benefits in the way of a calmer morning. No rushing to find things, look for an outfit, find a clean dish, or a clean spot to eat off on the dining table. It's all been taken care of.