Package updates left you with too many processes using old files as shown by zypper ps that it's easier to reboot instead of restarting the processes, but you are nostalgic about your long uptime record? Here's how to preserve your uptime.

Log out of the desktop. Go to a virtual console and become root, then:

Code:
telinit s
This changes the runlevel to single user. It will prompt you for the root password to login, then:

Code:
telinit 5
which will bring it back up to multiuser with GUI. Use
Code:
telinit 3
if you run it in CLI mode, e.g. a server.