Read papers and makes things ready for next step or if your are doing 3-4 things then u have to manage your time depending upon the situation

There is a lot of waiting for western blot. All the steps, including antibodies incubation and washing should be done in order. I would recommend you to run a western when you are simultaneously working on other projects so that you don't get bored while waiting. Also, you can use that time to make buffers for your next step ( or other projects).

In addition, you can work on data analysis and read literature. 

Multi-tasking is the answer. For instance read papers, prepare data from previous western blotting experiments, do your tissue culture etc ...

Very good question. Like most responders have said, do other projects/tasks while running westerns. I usually prepare buffers  for next steps, read or write up a previous experiment or assignment or even go grab a quick lunch, etc and have my timer set and with me so I am alerted when the time is up for the step . hope it helps....

Our lab has recently switched to using the iBind Flex machine from ThermoFisher for all blot rinses and antibody incubations. Once you transfer the proteins from your gel to the membrane, and set up the iBind device with your blot and primary and secondary antibodies in it, you can leave the blot for 3 hours and afterwards, it's ready to develop. This frees up a good deal of time to do other things. 

Try GOBlot, an affordable western blot processor, from Cytoskeleton. It does not require expensive consumables and you can recycle your primary antibody.  It does all blocking, primary and secondary antibodies, and washes between each step for you.  

Hi, I usually prepare buffers for next steps and clean equipment from earlier steps. Sometimes I can go for a quick lunch, search for new articles on my protein of interest, or analyze data for old experiment.