Low Power Mode is worth turning on.

Do it. Go to System Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode, and set it to “Only on Battery” or “Never” depending on your needs. The menu bar battery icon also gives you a quick toggle.

It does exactly what it sounds like: dials back CPU/GPU performance, slightly dims the display, and reduces background activity. On an M-series MacBook Air, you won’t notice the slowdown for email, web, or writing — you’ll just get an extra hour or two of runtime. The trade-off is real if you’re rendering video or playing games, but for typical battery-life panic moments, it’s a no-brainer.

One tip: don’t leave it on forever. Low Power Mode can make the system feel sluggish under load, and the battery savings diminish once you’re plugged in anyway. Use it when you need it, turn it off when you don’t.

Your battery will thank you, and so will your anxiety about finding an outlet.