diff --git a/code/__DEFINES/qdel.dm b/code/__DEFINES/qdel.dm
index 2028f45afa8..b17fbbe3d1a 100644
--- a/code/__DEFINES/qdel.dm
+++ b/code/__DEFINES/qdel.dm
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
 
 // Defines for the time an item has to get its reference cleaned before it fails the queue and moves to the next.
 #define GC_FILTER_QUEUE 1 SECONDS
-#define GC_CHECK_QUEUE 5 MINUTES
+#define GC_CHECK_QUEUE 30 SECONDS  // Reduced from 5 MINUTES for long-running rounds
 #define GC_DEL_QUEUE 10 SECONDS
 
 
diff --git a/code/__DEFINES/subsystems.dm b/code/__DEFINES/subsystems.dm
index 4a139c2e562..188e8b67e1b 100644
--- a/code/__DEFINES/subsystems.dm
+++ b/code/__DEFINES/subsystems.dm
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@
 #define FIRE_PRIORITY_VIS 10
 #define FIRE_PRIORITY_AMBIENCE 10
 #define FIRE_PRIORITY_MISSIONS 10
-#define FIRE_PRIORITY_GARBAGE 15
+#define FIRE_PRIORITY_GARBAGE 10  // Increased from 15 for better performance in long rounds
 #define FIRE_PRIORITY_WET_FLOORS 20
 #define FIRE_PRIORITY_AIR 20
 #define FIRE_PRIORITY_NPC 20
diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/garbage.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/garbage.dm
index 1bb1d185c84..102b9fc864b 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/garbage.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/garbage.dm
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ By using these methods of finding references, you can make your life far, far ea
 SUBSYSTEM_DEF(garbage)
 	name = "Garbage"
 	priority = FIRE_PRIORITY_GARBAGE
-	wait = 2 SECONDS
+	wait = 1 SECONDS  // Increased frequency from 2 SECONDS for better throughput
 	flags = SS_POST_FIRE_TIMING|SS_BACKGROUND|SS_NO_INIT
 	runlevels = RUNLEVELS_DEFAULT | RUNLEVEL_LOBBY
 	init_order = INIT_ORDER_GARBAGE
diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/idlenpcpool.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/idlenpcpool.dm
index 5c8bb49ab76..be05c808659 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/idlenpcpool.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/idlenpcpool.dm
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(idlenpcpool)
 	name = "Idling NPC Pool"
 	flags = SS_POST_FIRE_TIMING|SS_BACKGROUND|SS_NO_INIT
 	priority = FIRE_PRIORITY_IDLE_NPC
-	wait = 60
+	wait = 30  // Reduced from 60 to check more frequently for player presence
 	runlevels = RUNLEVEL_GAME | RUNLEVEL_POSTGAME
 
 	var/list/currentrun = list()
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(idlenpcpool)
 
 	if (!resumed)
 		var/list/idlelist = GLOB.simple_animals[AI_IDLE]
-		src.currentrun = idlelist.Copy()
+		var/list/zlist = GLOB.simple_animals[AI_Z_OFF]
+		// Process both idle and z-off mobs
+		src.currentrun = idlelist.Copy() + zlist.Copy()
 
 	//cache for sanic speed (lists are references anyways)
 	var/list/currentrun = src.currentrun
@@ -33,12 +35,19 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(idlenpcpool)
 		--currentrun.len
 		if (!SA)
 			GLOB.simple_animals[AI_IDLE] -= SA
+			GLOB.simple_animals[AI_Z_OFF] -= SA
 			continue
 
 		if(!SA.ckey)
-			if(SA.stat != DEAD)
-				SA.handle_automated_movement()
-			if(SA.stat != DEAD)
-				SA.check_should_sleep()
+			// For AI_Z_OFF mobs, only check if they should wake up, don't move them
+			if(SA.AIStatus == AI_Z_OFF)
+				if(SA.stat != DEAD)
+					SA.check_should_sleep()
+			else
+				// For AI_IDLE mobs, do normal processing
+				if(SA.stat != DEAD)
+					SA.handle_automated_movement()
+				if(SA.stat != DEAD)
+					SA.check_should_sleep()
 		if (MC_TICK_CHECK)
 			return
diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/machines.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/machines.dm
index ee0f4c9b1f2..60f547c6c48 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/machines.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/machines.dm
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(machines)
 	var/list/processing = list()
 	var/list/currentrun = list()
 	var/list/powernets = list()
+	/// Track how many machines we skipped due to empty virtual z-levels
+	var/skipped_machines = 0
 
 /datum/controller/subsystem/machines/Initialize()
 	makepowernets()
@@ -31,7 +33,7 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(machines)
 			propagate_network(PC,PC.powernet)
 
 /datum/controller/subsystem/machines/stat_entry(msg)
-	msg = "M:[length(processing)]|PN:[length(powernets)]"
+	msg = "M:[length(processing)]|PN:[length(powernets)]|S:[skipped_machines]"
 	return ..()
 
 
@@ -40,6 +42,7 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(machines)
 		for(var/datum/powernet/Powernet in powernets)
 			Powernet.reset() //reset the power state.
 		src.currentrun = processing.Copy()
+		skipped_machines = 0
 
 	//cache for sanic speed (lists are references anyways)
 	var/list/currentrun = src.currentrun
@@ -47,10 +50,37 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(machines)
 	while(currentrun.len)
 		var/obj/machinery/thing = currentrun[currentrun.len]
 		currentrun.len--
-		if(QDELETED(thing) || thing.process(wait * 0.1) == PROCESS_KILL)
+
+		if(QDELETED(thing))
+			processing -= thing
+			if (MC_TICK_CHECK)
+				return
+			continue
+
+		// Skip machines on virtual z-levels with no players present
+		// Exceptions:
+		// 1. Critical machines (SM, PA, telecomms) always process
+		// 2. Machines in outpost areas always process (player hubs)
+		// 3. Machines in ship areas always process (player-owned vessels)
+		if(!thing.critical_machine)
+			var/area/machine_area = get_area(thing)
+			// Check if it's an outpost or ship area - these always process
+			if(!istype(machine_area, /area/outpost) && !istype(machine_area, /area/ship))
+				var/thing_vz = thing.virtual_z()
+				if(thing_vz)
+					var/players_on_vz = LAZYACCESS(SSmobs.players_by_virtual_z, "[thing_vz]")
+					if(!length(players_on_vz))
+						skipped_machines++
+						if (MC_TICK_CHECK)
+							return
+						continue
+
+		// Process the machine
+		if(thing.process(wait * 0.1) == PROCESS_KILL)
 			processing -= thing
 			if (!QDELETED(thing))
 				thing.datum_flags &= ~DF_ISPROCESSING
+
 		if (MC_TICK_CHECK)
 			return
 
diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/npcpool.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/npcpool.dm
index 9ccc6bda58d..de319433b9f 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/npcpool.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/npcpool.dm
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(npcpool)
 			if(QDELETED(SA))
 				continue
 
+		// Skip AI_Z_OFF mobs - they're on virtual z-levels with no players
+		if(SA.AIStatus == AI_Z_OFF)
+			continue
+
 		if(!SA.ckey && !SA.notransform)
 			if(SA.stat != DEAD)
 				SA.handle_automated_movement()
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/living_movement.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/living_movement.dm
index 9634040582e..8a019edbc58 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/living_movement.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/living_movement.dm
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@
 		return TRUE
 	if(ismob(mover) && (mover in buckled_mobs))
 		return TRUE
+	//Allow squeezing by on grab intent
+	if(iscarbon(mover))
+		var/mob/living/carbon/C = mover
+		if(C.a_intent == INTENT_GRAB)
+			return TRUE
 	return !mover.density || body_position == LYING_DOWN
 
 /mob/living/toggle_move_intent()
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/simple_animal.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/simple_animal.dm
index e90b4a618fa..460c44296f6 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/simple_animal.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/simple_animal.dm
@@ -232,6 +232,10 @@
 
 /mob/living/simple_animal/proc/handle_automated_action()
 	set waitfor = FALSE
+	// Periodically check if we should sleep (for non-hostile mobs)
+	// Hostile mobs override this and do their own checks
+	if(prob(10)) // 10% chance per action to check sleep state
+		check_should_sleep()
 	return
 
 /mob/living/simple_animal/proc/handle_automated_movement()
@@ -658,17 +662,39 @@
 			LAZYREMOVEASSOC(SSidlenpcpool.idle_mobs_by_virtual_level, "[virt_z]", src)
 
 /mob/living/simple_animal/proc/check_should_sleep()
+	// Don't sleep if being pulled or explicitly flagged to stay awake
 	if (pulledby || shouldwakeup)
 		toggle_ai(AI_ON)
 		return
 
+	// Don't sleep if we're player-controlled
+	if(ckey)
+		return
+
 	var/virt_z = virtual_z()
+	if(!virt_z)
+		return
+
 	var/players_on_virtual_z = 0
-	if(virt_z)
-		players_on_virtual_z = LAZYACCESS(SSmobs.players_by_virtual_z, "[virt_z]")
-		if(!length(players_on_virtual_z))
+	players_on_virtual_z = LAZYACCESS(SSmobs.players_by_virtual_z, "[virt_z]")
+
+	// If no players on this virtual z-level, sleep
+	if(!length(players_on_virtual_z))
+		if(AIStatus != AI_Z_OFF)
 			toggle_ai(AI_Z_OFF)
-		else if(AIStatus == AI_Z_OFF)
+	// If there are players and we're asleep, wake up
+	else if(AIStatus == AI_Z_OFF)
+		// Check if any players are actually close enough to matter
+		var/should_wake = FALSE
+		var/turf/our_turf = get_turf(src)
+		if(our_turf)
+			for(var/mob/living/player_mob in players_on_virtual_z)
+				// Wake up if a player is within reasonable distance
+				if(get_dist(our_turf, get_turf(player_mob)) <= MAX_SIMPLEMOB_WAKEUP_RANGE * 3)
+					should_wake = TRUE
+					break
+
+		if(should_wake)
 			toggle_ai(AI_ON)
 
 /mob/living/simple_animal/adjustHealth(amount, updating_health = TRUE, forced = FALSE)