Conservation

It has been noted that I seem tired all the time. In fact, I am just in a continual state of energy conservation.
I work two jobs, one of which has twenty four hour shifts and the other is midnight shifts. I also attend school. This requires a lot of energy on my part. Everyone ask me how I manage this schedule. It all goes back to my primary job as a paramedic working twenty four hour shifts.
When a medic works twenty four hour shifts, that person is expected to able to function at the same level of competence regardless of the time of day. In truth this is not actually possible so paramedic have developed various ways to compensate.
First, the newly anointed medics. They have a high energy, save the world mentality. Most are young, and can go full bore all shift. This can lead to burn out if not carefully monitored.
Second, the experienced (often burnt out) medics. They function at high efficiency for part of the shift. Depending on the day of the week and month they adjust their bodies function when the peak call volume will hit, and sleep (or at least function at minimal levels) the rest of the time.
The third category is the truly burnt out. These miserable wretches have used all their energy up and have nothing left. They function at a level that keeps them barely employed.
Finally, the venerable medic. This individual run in a semi-conscious state for the entire shift (I fall into this class). I have the same mental function at three in the morning as I do at three in the afternoon or visa versa. That is to say, I am only half awake. The other half of my mental prowess is resting in the event that I need it. When a "real" call arises, the venerable medic can pull his full awareness into action. Luckily, this doesn't happen often as full use of the venerable medics abilities leave an exhausted shell that needs a full days sleep to recover.
So, when you see me out and about, don't worry about my health. I'm not on deaths door or suffering a stroke. I'm just half relaxing. So say hi and keep the intellectual stimulation down. Part of me is sleeping.

Smile. It pissed the Universe off.