“I hate mornings,” said Lisa, a friend who’s a bike racer and busy NYC professional, when she found out that I work out first thing in the day. Yet she’s routinely up before the sun to fit in a workout. Confession: I don’t love getting out of bed, either.

See, we’re not morning people. We’re morning exercisers. It’s a huge misconception that you have to be one in order to be the other.

The bonus of the morning plan: Our workouts rarely get bumped. And, in fact, people who work out in the mornings are more likely to make exercise a habit. Not convinced? Here are 5 more reasons to work out in the a.m.:
1. One shower. Work out before you get all fancy for the day and you don’t have to go through the whole shower/dry hair/moisturize routine on your lunch hour or later. Saves time, water, energy.
2. The best parties aren’t breakfast parties. You’re less likely to scrap your workout for the can’t miss get-together with friends if you work out at daybreak. Run, walk, lift weights or whatever you do before the boss gets up and his or her “urgent” deadlines won’t pulverize your workout plans, either.
3. Accomplishment is a beautiful thing. As everyone else stumbles to the bus stop or the office, you’re flying. Not only did your workout get your energy up in a way coffee just can’t, but you are d-o-n-e! It’s a great feeling to have one “to-do” completely nixed when most people are still figuring out what’s on their lists.
4. Less hassle, more joy. Less traffic. Less heat and humidity in the summer. More fresh morning sounds and smells.
5. There is nothing like morning light on ____ (fill in the blank). One winter morning, my running buddy broke our usual routine and led us over the Queensboro bridge, right into the sunrise, just as the days were getting longer. What a way to start the day!

Admitted, the first week of morning workouts can be tough! Here’s how to make the whole thing easier.