Are gerunds/participles really used in daily speach rather than books? For example:
Приехав домой, я ... Would you prefer this or simply: После домой, я.. (consider please also other gerund situations like читая, читаемый, etc.)
Thank you

See a translation

They are used, but in slow(ish) conversations, discussions about more or less complicated things. When people talk about immediate or everyday matters, they are more likely to use strings of verbs.
"Я вчера пришла домой и сразу легла спать." is more likely in a normal conversation, than "Вчера, придя домой, я сразу легла спать." (Everyday stuff)
Помешиваешь и вливаешь потихоньку масло. is more likely to be said in the kitchen, when you're giving someone instructions.
Помешивая, вливаем/вливаете потихоньку масло. is more likely to be in a recipe or a tutorial.
Мне кажется, сменив работу, я стала меньше бояться перемен вообще. is very likely to be in a normal conversation, because it's not an immediate matter, but a more or less deep conversation.