I used to do that transfer by getting in/out at 55th st end of the 57th St station. Also for a time I used to exit 57-7 in decent weather to change to the 1 train at Columbus circle rather than transfer at Times Square.
Like others noted, coming from Astoria we have to change at 57th st 7th avenue to get to the second avenue. Slow, but physically easy. I wonder if it would be worth it walking between 3rd and 60th and 3rd and 63rd. Or maybe just take the . It's still the quickest if you walk briskly from the station.