Finding time to exercise can be challenging, and the most important thing is to squeeze in any amount of it whenever you can. But if you want to optimize your workouts to get the widest range of benefits, you might want to try exercising in the morning. According to researchers, working out in the morning—especially on an empty stomach—is the best way to burn stored fact, making it ideal for weight loss. That’s largely because the body’s hormonal composition in the morning is set up to support that goal. Even if you hate early alarms, working out first thing in the morning can quickly become second nature. A study recently published in the Journal of Physiology found that exercising at 7 a.m. may shift your body clock earlier, meaning you’ll feel more alert in the morning and get tired earlier in the evening, potentially priming you to get enough rest to wake up and do the same thing the next day. But if you’re really not a morning person, don’t force it: an afternoon workout can also be a great way to avoid an end-of-the-day slump and help you refocus.