Confession: I’m not a morning person. I’ve always envied those who could wake up every morning with ease and just plain excited for the day. For me, I need much more time after waking to deal with people, or basically, just conversation. However, this doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy some of the perks of morning people, one of which is A.M. exercise.

You can be one of those people you’ve always considered a little “crazy” and get your sweat on with the sunrise. To convince you to give it a try, here are just 10 of the amazing benefits.

1. Exercise significantly increases mental acuity that lasts from four to ten hours after the workout ends. So an a.m. workout means you get to use that extra boost of brainpower all morning or day long. Waiting ‘til the end of the day means you’ll waste it while snoozing.

2. If you make exercise a priority it really won’t be that difficult to wake up an extra 30 to 60 minutes earlier. Exercise leads to a higher quality of sleep, which means you’ll require less sleep or feel even better when you wake up after sleeping the usual amount. As someone who tosses and turns pretty often, this is reason alone for me to change my routine.

3. If you commit and begin exercising at about the same time every morning and are waking up at about the same time as well, you’ll help regulate your body’s endocrine system and circadian rhythms.

4, 5, 6. When you exercise at about the same time every morning—especially if you wake up regularly at about the same time—you’re regulating your body’s endocrine system and circadian rhythms. Your body learns that you do the same thing just about every day, and it begins to prepare for waking and exercise several hours before you actually open your eyes. That’s beneficial because:

Your body’s not “confused” by wildly changing wake-up times, which means waking up is much less painful. (You may even find that you don’t need an alarm clock most days.)

Hormones prepare your body for exercise by regulating blood pressure, heart rate, blood flow to muscles, etc.

Your metabolism, along with all the hormones involved in activity and exercise, begin to elevate while you’re sleeping. As a result, you’ll feel more alert, energized, and ready to exercise when you do wake up.

7. You’ll discover that morning exercise helps to regulate your appetite for the remainder of the day. Not only will you eat less because of the endorphins released from exercise that diminishes appetite, but you’ll be inclined to choose healthier portions and healthier foods.

8. Over time you’ll discover that your morning exercise is something to look forward to. You’ll get the satisfaction of achieving something before most people have woken up, and it’s a great time to plan out your day or simply think more clearly.

9. If other commitments often sidetrack you from your workout, getting exercise in at the start of the day is the best way to prevent it. At the end of the day, family responsibilities, preparing dinner, or running errands can diminish your commitment.

10. More than 90% of those who exercise consistently have a morning fitness routine. If you want to exercise on a regular basis, the odds are in your favor if you squeeze your workout into the a.m.

Even if you’re seriously dreading the thought of an a.m. workout, just give it a try. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how great you feel afterwards and for the rest of the day.

Share your tips to get moving in the morning below!