There are a couple of other things at play here. First, with 8GB of RAM, restarting computer more oftern the every eight days will reduce the value of Swap Used:
Free RAM: 124 MB
Used RAM: 6.40 GB
Cached files: 1.48 GB
Available RAM: 1.60 GB
Swap Used: 1.17 GB 👈🏻
Swap is a measure of the computer's reliance on virtual memory instead of physical memory. Your less-than-optimum drive speed scores could reflect the high Swap usage:
Performance:
System Load: 2.01 (1 min ago) 19.74 (5 min ago) 46.73 (15 min ago)
Nominal I/O usage: 23.02 MB/s
File system: 10.15 seconds
Write speed: 1620 MB/s ⚠️
Read speed: 3245 MB/s
Based on my testing of M1 Mac notebooks, the Write speed should be nearly the same as the Read speed. With Macs having 8GB RAM, I like to restart every 2-3 days.
However the pachyderm on the premises is the fact that M-series Macbook Airs do not have cooling fans. They rely on less-effective convection cooling instead. Such is the cost of minimalist design. The current Macbook Air seems designed to meet minimal workload needs.
Regardless of browser, any gaming or streaming video including video conferencing will run up the internal temps on any computer, Mac or otherwise. For Macs, so can using an external monitor.
This Apple article points out some workstation conditions can affect internal temperatures:
Keep your Mac laptop within acceptable operating temperatures - Apple Support
Remember that the hinge area in any Mac laptop made in the last 20 years is part of the heat dissipation system. Make sure it is never blocked
