MacBook Air m2 8gb struggles to run basic functions

Having only 8 GB of RAM is going to be limiting. It's why I traded in my MBA about two years ago.

Some things I did to manage the situation:

• Shut down the computer every night.
• Limit the number of windows you have open.
• Limit the number of tabs in your browser.
• Try to limit the number of running applications. If it's something that uses a lot of RAM, that should be the only application.
• Do not install Chrome on your computer.
• Make sure you have a lot of free space on your internal drive.
• Use Activity Monitor to keep track of memory pressure. If it goes into the red, close out of everything and restart.

Under no circumstances should you install "cleaner" or "optimizing" software. That will only make things worse. Sometimes a lot worse.

Malware is unlikely.

I was only using a browser and Microsoft Office on my MBA, and sometimes it struggled. I suspect that Logic is pushing its limits. My suggestion would be to do what I did. Trade it in while it still has some value and get something better suited. Don't buy a Neo as it only has 8 GB of memory.

I got it refurbished almost brand new, and I've had it for about a year.

Did you buy the refurb directly from Apple? The is the only way to get an Apple Certified Refurb.

Yes, RAM is the prime suspect but there may be something else—hardware; software; something fixable?—at play that is contributing. We can "see more" in this text-based setting if you post a system report. Fortunitely, there is a safe, secure way to do that.

If you want a data-driven evaluation in this setting where we can neither see nor touch your computer, please post an EtreCheck report. We can quickly and within the limitations of these forums help you determine what issues are at play without our playing a protracted game of "20 Questions" with you that could go on for days. 

EtreCheck Pro is available here:

https://etrecheck.com/en/welcome.html

The free version will do nicely for this purpose, although the app is worthy of our financial support.

We can see hard data about drive performance, software issues and interferences, and RAM usage. Etrecheck is the development of a long-serving and trusted ASC contributor. It is a reporting app, not a "fix-it” app, expressly for displaying information in these forums to help us help you remotely. It will not reveal any personal or secure information.

Please see this excellent user tip on how to post long text reports like EtreCheck's into a forum response:

How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community

Please post the entire report. What seems insignificant to a new Etrecheck user can speak volumes to those of us who have reviewed thousands of those reports.

See this from the Mac User Guide.

If your Mac runs slowly - Apple Support

IdrisSeabright offered excellent advice as usual.

Note that the current MacBook Air (M5 processor) is sold with a minimum of 16GB RAM.