Please enable Windows Update and install all latest updates.
Memory usage very high and could slow down your computer you should close programs you don't use.
You have not rebooted your computer for few days you should reboot your computer to clear junks from memory.
Uninstall Avast antivirus to check if its causing the slow down problem.
Try Clean Boot state to find out if any of the startup programs or services causing the slow down.
As stated earlier, even with everything closed, including MS Explorer windows, computer is still incredibly slow/memory usage high.
I don't want to sound as though I'm not appreciative of the suggestions and help. But as a way to try to help both you and I, so you don't have to toss out the rudimentary tips akin to when a person calls customer support and we have to go through Tier 1 explaining that the computer IS turned on, all of the cords ARE plugged in and connected (although yes, I have known a few IT professionals to make the mistake before so I do understand it's still a necessary evil in some cases just to make sure the obvious isn't overlooked),... I do know my way around a computer more than the average user, and I don't mean I use Google to look everything up. In fact, I'm more of an internet dummy and don't do much surfing in general.
I don't like to act as though I know everything, as obviously I don't. I did my best to drop a few clues without being blatant. The thing that doesn't work very well in my case is my actual brain and I'm definitely not any sort of a computer/IT/communications expert. But, I do understand about rebooting, defraging, emptying my cache, updating Windows, drivers, OS, ... clearing programs out of Start-up, keeping harddrive space free, having adequate memory, that my network is essentially (not actually) only as good as my weakest/slowest device...
That's not to say not to suggest things. I just thought you should know I do know a thing or two. My first CPU was an Atari 800 in the 2nd grade. I used to write programs in Basic and trade them with a friend in a nearby neighborhood. He became a programmer and I chose a different route. But I've still been around many, many different computers. Apples, DOS, Unix, Sun and Windows 7 and 8. I hope none of that comes across as rude, cocky, or in any way negative. I was just hoping that it might help. One of my photography sites there are different boxes which users can choose as a way to identify their level of proficiency. I think that it helps quite a bit, especially when reading comments and reviews by different members so that one can get a feel for the way in which they use their equipment and their understanding of the different terms used to describe things. So I do honestly hope that I didn't say anything that comes across in the least bit offensively. I really am VERY appreciative of your time, effort and patience.
Now, 4 hours after I started downloading the 4 "Important" Windows updates, my computer is finally ready to reboot. And for reference, I didn't have any programs loaded except for Explorer and Firefox. Let's see how long it takes to reboot this time.
Next step, attempt clean boot and see if I'm still having issues, which I expect I will.
Before I do that, as I was looking at the Speccy log, I noticed that there are a few big chunks of Peak Memory Usage. I fully expect for those to occur with Adobe Lightroom (LR), Adobe Photoshop (PS) and even perhaps in MS Word. I also understand that I'm transferring the data over my network, usually directly through LR, but occasionally via Windows Explorer, so it's understandable that there would be peaks in Windows Explorer. However, I don't understand why there would also need to be peaks in dllhost.exe, svchost.exe, Avast and Firefox.
I guess I can somewhat understand Avast scanning the data within my own network, as if I were to plug in a suspect harddrive, then the data would need to be checked for any potential viruses, malware or threats. But I know exactly where the files are coming from, either directly from my own compact flash memory card from my camera, my own external harddrive and then they are being transferred to my laptop while I work on them. And then they stay in a closed loop in my network. I also understand that anything can become infected and spread through my network, but it still seems a bit excessive to be scanning everything in every direction. Of course, I know your suggestion regarding Windows Defender was made from the getgo. I'm not a big fan of Microsoft in general. I'm reluctant to go the route of MS Defender as it doesn't seem to be secure enough. The reports indicate that Defender doesn't catch as much as the other AV software nor does it provide as much protection in general. Additional software would still be required to compliment Defender in order to provide the same services which Avast and its competitors provide. The question would be is there somewhere in between the two, where I can choose not to have every last bit scanned, as I outlined, but still have the necessary unknowns scanned or even the capability to turn on scanning for my local network?
What I'm essentially asking regarding dllhost.exe and svshost.exe is, are these processes somehow being redundant, running either silmultaneously or overlapping and therefore causing an excessive load on my harddrive when there's no need for things to be that way? The way I see things, I shouldn't have multiple processes accessing the same data files at the same time, especially when they are sizeable files and they are being accessed across my network (that's the most logical way for me to be able to maintain, use and store the amount and size of files that I use regularly and keep my harddrive freed up enough so that conceivably my computer isn't too slow to work on. Or, is there a possibility that either of these processes is damaged?
One way that I always know when there are MS Updates to be installed on my computer is that my SimplePass (fingerprint login sensor) won't work. It won't light up, doesn't even register any attempt to login via fingerprint. I joke to myself that is how Microsoft ensures that I will install updates, just so that I can login to my notebook without hassle. 
I'd greatly appreciate if you all could help me figure out what the issue is with my notebook while I continue to complete the CleanBoot process, waiting an indeterminate amount of time between each change to continue using my computer as I forgot to specifically state that the issue is inconsistent, so it might not be evident right away whether any one thing is or is not the culprit. And then return here sharing whatever I might have as an update. I don't want to be pessismistic, but I implore you to please continue to look at the details I've given you thus far, put your thinking caps on, ask me for further information, provide me with some further diagnostics I can run and provide you with feedback.
I know there are several error logs onboard which could potentially help somebody who might know what to look for. Photoshop crashes regularly. Thankfully I haven't had a blue screen in awhile. I do get regular errors in MS Excel, Word and Outlook about being able to connect/save after hibernating and I have to Save As, but I think that's a different issue. I know there have been other errors, I just can't remember exactly what. I just think there might be a more efficient route to the answer, that's all. But if I'm being too pushy and impatient, tell me. I can understand. I know sometimes when something is frustrating it gets a little harder to be patient. Plus, I do understand that you're helping so many other people and I wouldn't want to try to take away any time and energy from anybody else just because I'm being grumpy. Apologies if I am coming across that way. After dealing with this issue for a couple of years it's really starting to get to me.