diff --git a/shell/plugins/panels/monitor/Panel.qml b/shell/plugins/panels/monitor/Panel.qml
index 1ca893c7..cb191e18 100644
--- a/shell/plugins/panels/monitor/Panel.qml
+++ b/shell/plugins/panels/monitor/Panel.qml
@@ -278,9 +278,12 @@ Panel {
   onDisplaysChanged: clampCursor()
   onVisibleSectionsChanged: clampCursor()
 
+  // Only poll while the panel is open; the bar glyph tracks monitor count via
+  // Quickshell.screens, and open-time refresh + Component.onCompleted cover the
+  // rest. External brightness changes are reflected whenever the panel is open.
   Timer {
     interval: 5000
-    running: true
+    running: root.opened
     repeat: true
     onTriggered: root.refresh()
   }
@@ -341,7 +344,7 @@ Panel {
     id: button
     anchors.fill: parent
     bar: root.bar
-    text: root.displays.length > 1 ? "󰍺" : "󰍹"
+    text: Quickshell.screens.length > 1 ? "󰍺" : "󰍹"
     onPressed: function(b) { root.toggle() }
     onWheelMoved: function(delta) {
       if (root.brightnessAvailable) root.setBrightness(root.brightnessPercent + (delta > 0 ? 5 : -5))
diff --git a/shell/plugins/panels/network/Panel.qml b/shell/plugins/panels/network/Panel.qml
index 2d3c9bae..bdd81625 100644
--- a/shell/plugins/panels/network/Panel.qml
+++ b/shell/plugins/panels/network/Panel.qml
@@ -1505,7 +1505,7 @@ Panel {
   }
 
   Timer {
-    interval: 3000
+    interval: 10000
     running: true
     repeat: true
     triggeredOnStart: true