People experience a product as a sequence of actions and responses. The time between them changes whether the interaction feels direct or uncertain.
Measure the complete journey
A fast database query is valuable, but it is only one part of the experience. Rendering, transfer, asset loading, and the amount of work left to the browser all affect when someone can read or act.
For a reading page, prefer server-rendered content and send interactive code only where it serves a clear purpose. An await in the right place can simplify the entire page.
Make the useful thing arrive first
A reader visiting an article wants the article. A decorative animation should not be a prerequisite for the first paragraph. Prioritise the content, reserve image dimensions, and make the remaining work unobtrusive.
Further technical details belong in the official Next.js documentation.