Generally some simple things may help your Mac; while looking into Activity Monitor
and other included utilities, may be good to learn what is happening when or if your
Mac acts up. Depending on the hardware build version of your Mac, symptoms vary.
The "Safe" mode on startup may clear some issues. In Apple Silicon based Macs, that
requires different actions to instigate a safe mode. Unlike the older 'intel-based' Macs,
where the Shift key, held down awhile, on restart; essentially is the big requirement.
[Support's Safe mode covers both Apple silicon & Intel-based hardware instructions.]
• How to use Safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262
An 'intel-based' Mac could see changes in its performance, through various resets;
such as SMC (system management controller) and/or NVRAM (PRAM) resets. These
are not present to M1 Apple silicon; [or if some mention suggests a presence, that
too may be in error..] To try & access something like 'instead of SMC' may require a
Command-line action. Seldom needed, to use newer M1 Macs. Restart in recovery..
• Use macOS Recovery on a Mac with Apple Silicon - Apple Support
https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/macos-recovery-a-mac-apple-silicon-mchl82829c17/mac
With the M1 Apple silicon 'SoC' Macs, resources/reserves change; within reason, it's adaptive.
• macOS User Guide [Table of Contents] - Apple Support
https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/toc
Since no mention of Mac's build model, or its hardware difference; SMC and NVRAM
how to instructions also need to be included here. The latest item with SMC, is those
hardware versions may now include is the T-2 chip-set; and more instructions.
• How to reset the SMC on your ("intel-based") Mac - Apple Support
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295
• Reset NVRAM or PRAM on your ("intel-based") Mac - Apple Support
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063
Neither of these two have an exact or similar equal between them.
Good luck & happy computing!🌻🌿❄️☃️