There is ONE answer as to why the apps are "slow to launch" (perhaps boot time, too):
You have a SLOW internal platter-based hard drive.
Buying it configured like that was a mistake, but if it's too late to return it, the Mac can be made to boot and run MUCH faster:
Buy an EXTERNAL USB3 SSD, plug it in, and set it up to become the boot drive.
Do this, and everything will go MUCH faster.
Cheap, easy, quick.
You have three ways to "get there" (from fast, to faster, to fastest):
1. Get a "ready-to-go" USB3 SSD, such as a Sandisk Extreme or Samsung t5. This will give you read speeds around 430mbps.
2. Buy a USB 3.1 "gen2" enclosure, and a blade-type NVME SSD. You have to buy the components and assemble them yourself (takes only a screwdriver), but this combination will give you read speeds around 900+/-mbps. Almost double that of USB3.1 gen1.
3. Buy a thunderbolt3 drive such as the Samsung X5. These are VERY fast (read speeds over 2,000mbps), but they are considerably more expensive.
IMO, the best way to go (considering your situation) would be option 2. You'll see speeds that will change your frown into a BIG smile.
Setting up an external boot drive is EASY.
You DON'T have to buy "a big drive" -- I'd suggest 512gb.
Even 256gb will do the job well.
But again -- the slow internal HDD is the source of your problems.
There is NO WAY to "fix this", other than booting from a faster drive (SSD).
And again, the fastest, easiest, cheapest way to "get there" is to add an external USB3 SSD.
