When I turn off my game I just exit the program, I don't pause the game. Then I leave it alone for a MINIMUM of 6-8 hours. (i.e. I don't open it again to check what they are doing...I just leave it closed.) I always make sure that I leave plenty of food for them first. My people are always elated when I open the game (usually the next morning) and aren't exhausted until really late at night (real time)