Before Bed...Must-Do's!

There are a few things that MUST be accomplished before I head to bed every night.  If these five things are done, then I wake up with the confidence that the morning can be tackled.  And if these things are not done, I feel like I start the day behind. Who wants that?!  Now these things do not guarantee a great morning, but they almost always help me wake up with a great attitude.....which let's all admit that is like 3/4 of the battle.
1. The coffee pot must be set and ready to go.  I've mentioned before that I am not a Keurig person (I just can't get over the fact that you can't clean the inside.....and all that grossness just gets pushed into your cup. Ewwwww), so I always have my coffee pot set at night so that all I have to do in the morning is push "start."  There is an automatic button on the coffee pot but I've never learned how to use it.  Maybe I should?

2. Empty the sink & clean the counters.  There is no greater feeling of being behind than a sink full of dishes.  Before bed all of the dishes are loaded into the dishwasher or washed so that the sink is empty.  After I start the coffee pot in the morning, I put all of the dishes away while I wait for my morning brew. Also, I just can't stand food that has hardened to the counter tops, or something greasy that is hiding and will be soaked up by the first piece of paper it touches. Yuck!  Before bed, once the dishes are done, all of the counters get wiped down & cleaned.  A clean kitchen is a happy morning.

3. No Crumb Floors!  It drives me batty to walk barefooted through the house and for crumbs to stick to my feet.  AHHH!  With 2 toddlers and 2 dogs, we have to be diligent to prevent this.  Before my kids go to bed they have to put away all of their toys.  And before the Mr. & I go to bed we vacuum and sweep all of the floors in the main living areas (dining, kitchen, living room).

4. Clothes Out.  Even if we are not going anywhere, my clothes (even if just leggings & a tee shirt), and the kids clothes are set out.  When the day is kicked off, this takes one decision off my plate.

5. Shower Time. I'm going to go out on a limb here & assume that most women with small children find it pretty challenging to shower.  There is just no good time when the kiddos are awake.  So if I want a shower, and I do, then I have to do in while they are sleeping.

Those are my top 5 things.  Now I should also add a 6th- check the washer for wet clothes.....but I'm not sure my brain could handle a 6th item.  With my coffee set, some decisions taken care of, a clean house & a clean mama, I can go to bed with a clearer head knowing that I will wake up to a clean home that will hopefully lead to a smoother morning where I can actually get some time in the Word before the kids get up.

What about you?

What things do you do before going to bed that make your mornings smoother?