speed MacBook slowing down

Don't touch caches from outside that managed by Lightroom, Photoshop, and web browsers. System optimization tools that affect system level caches can corrupt the caches and actually slow down your Mac.

Make sure your hard disk is never over 85% full.

Do not run memory resident programs while in production on Lightroom or Photoshop. That means no Time Machine, no iCloud sync, no OneDrive sync.

Etrecheck can help identify memory resident programs that could be eating up your processing.

Using the cloud will slow down your Mac unless you have a strong Fiberoptic, T3, or OC line into your building. Standard cable or DSL or 5g will not cut it as each are asynchronous in their internet communication. Speed pulling down from the internet can be as much as a 100 times faster than going up. If you use WiFi, that will reduce your speed more. Hard wire to your modem if you must do a lot of internet traffic.