Do your levequests, and hunting log while waiting on queue. Do FATEs. Run each guildhest once for each role for the bonus xp. Aim to finish challenge log objectives while on a job you're leveling. If you're dealing with the upper levels, make use of beastmen daily quests and the daily/weekly HW hunts. There is a LOT you can do to level up if dps queues are too long for you. And leveling SHOULD take a while, use that time to PRACTICE.

Also, 7+ years and this is the only one you've seen that takes a while to level? What, only played WoW and Guild Wars? Try older MMOs like FFXI or Everquest, or even most MUDS out there, then try telling me FFXIV's leveling is slow :P