Combating Long Load Times Without Shortening Them

[Twinmum]

Don't let it scare you. I think it all depends on your computer, how many EP's and stuff packs you have as well as how many extras (store content, CC if you use it) you have installed. Another thing to consider, is in this day an age, we expect things to happen instantaneously and when something takes a little while, it always seems to be a lot longer than what it actually is.

[Dextra2]

Let's see, I press the four button untill it starts loading faster, press P repeatedly when it starts "lagging," (or it's loading slowly) draw in my notebook, or read somthing. (And I only have three EPs. Pets, SP and WA. Can't wait to see what I'll do when I have more! )

[Saturn]

Today I finished an assignment in my creative writing class and I usually check forums, my email and go in with my cats. 

[folcon]

I'll usually read a book or fire up the Wii and play a few rounds of Smash Bros.

[EllaTheTaco]

I usually play in a room with a television so i just watch it while its loading. Or I will play drawing pad on my nook, or I read

[Ztoast]

Watch episodes of QI, especially when I'm just skilling up my Sims with their needs static.

[Lilygirl]

Throw in a load of laundry, fold the load that just came out of the dryer, make and eat lunch, watch TV, load the dishwasher, check the mail, tidy up the living room/kitchen, and check the forum on the other computer. Yes, I said and. My Dynasty takes 45-50 minutes to load! If I'm playing one of my other games I watch the progress bar, amazed at how fast it is moving!

[Gameactive]

… My Dynasty takes 45-50 minutes to load! …

Woah, my golly! I’d be bored out of my mind by then!

Let's see, I press the four button untill it starts loading faster, press P repeatedly when it starts "lagging," (or it's loading slowly), …

I think this thread might be of particular interest…

This thread scares me! …

Great. So now I have another.

[Twinmum]

My Dynasty takes 45-50 minutes to load! If I'm playing one of my other games I watch the progress bar, amazed at how fast it is moving!

Oh wow, that is a long time. I've just ordered my new computer and following FlynnArrowstar's advise, I'm going to install Sims onto the solid state drive. It will be interesting to see how much difference it makes in my load times.
As to doing something else on the computer while you wait, I find that if I hit the windows button to do something else, when I come back to the game, it's not much further along than when I left it. That's why I do something non-computer related.

[ilovethesims]

I pick out the novel I'm reading. The load times are long enough for me to finish around 5 pages.