Working as a member of the Police Force on shifts, you may have many goals you'd like to pursue but at least as many challenges to overcome to become successful. It’s important to understand the variables that can impact your ability to reach your fitness goals and perform at the optimum level. You might not be aware of how much motivation and habits can affect your performance. Both can help combat the negative impacts of shift work including the changes to hormones that can reduce willpower.
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​If you’re a police officer, you have a demanding job. Not only can it sometimes be stressful, but it’s also highly physical: you never know when you’ll have to rely on your strength and fitness to get yourself out of a sticky situation.

​Night shifts are enough to send shivers down our spines, but they’re essential in the Police Force. Those streets don’t stop needing safety under cover of darkness. If we’re to stand any chance at helping our communities, we all need to suck it up at some point. And, if you’re reading this post, the chances are that night duty has fallen to you.

​There are so many great reasons to want to get fit and stay fit sustainably, but a job role is rarely one of them. However, being a physically fit police officer is essential if you’re going to perform optimally within your position. Catching criminals and taking on the other aspects of the job can be tough, but physical fitness can help in terms of strength, speed, endurance, and even mindset.

​Any job can be demanding and cause stress for employees. However, there is no denying that some jobs can be more stressful than others. If you're in the field of police work and law enforcement, you will come across a variety of highly stressful situations. Your job often can involve seeing upsetting scenes and entering risky environments and situations. Data from 2016 showed that at least one police officer was assaulted at New South Wales police stations every day. With such a highly stressful job, and the demands to keep in top physical condition too, finding the time or ability to relax can be challenging.

​Are you building up to join the Australian Defence Force and enrol to the Physical Fitness Assessment? Passing the fitness test marks a crucial point in new recruit training, so it makes sense for candidates to ensure they are primed and ready by the time the assessment comes around. If you’re counting down the days until your ADF fitness test, here are some pointers to ensure you’re mentally and physically prepared for the challenges that lie ahead, and some tips to maximise your chances of success. 

​If you’re planning on making it into the Australian Police force, the first obstacle is to pass the fitness test. The life of most police officers is not just about staying around the desk and even once you are in and on the job, you will need to maintain your fitness levels and pass the tests regularly to be able to do your job.