Run a general cleaner to delete temp files and fix errors: There are countless software programs out there that claim to speed up or fix your computer with a few clicks. Though most don't provide noticeable improvement and some I could even call scams, I suggest running a legitimate cleaner every couple of months. My favorite cleaner is called Glary Utilities (www.glarysoft.com). It's free to download and manually run scans. They have a premium edition, but I don't really think it's necessary for most users. I suggest running with 1-Click Maintenance scan, which will delete temporary files, fix registry errors, and do a check disk.
Physically clean the computer: Physically cleaning your computer is important. You can start by cleaning the exterior, which I recommend doing every couple months. When your computer is off, wipe down your keyboard, mouse, screen, and computer itself with a cloth and mild cleaner or a cleaner wipe, being careful not to soak and ruin the components. You could also vacuum up any hair or dirt buildup you see, especially around the intake fans of the computer. I also suggest having the inside of the computer cleaned every year or so by a technician to prevent any buildup from damaging or wearing out the electronics or fans.
Remove unnecessary programs and services from startup: There are likely many programs and background services that load when you start-up your computer. Removing unnecessary items from this startup list can provide noticeably quicker boot times and an overall performance boost. However, unless you know what you're doing, I'd leave this to the professionals.
Upgrade your hard drive to solid state drive (SSD): The traditional hard drives that have been around for decades have moving parts inside them. Those moving parts can wear overtime and slow down drive speeds. The newer type of drives are called solid state drives (SSDs) and don't have any moving parts, thus are considerably faster than the traditional drives. Upgrading to a SSD can provide a noticeable performance boost to your computer. So it's something to consider if you think your computer is too slow.
Buy another computer if you still have Windows Vista or XP: If you are still running these old Windows versions, I suggest upgrading to a newer computer as soon as you can. Support and updates from Microsoft has ended for Vista and XP, and you're more susceptible to viruses and other issues.
Get professional help when needed: The first three items I discussed you might be able to do yourself. But for the others, I suggest getting help from a professional like myself.
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