I'm sorry, but when I used to try to hand quilt, all I thought was "ouch!". I've never, & yes, I've tried almost evry one, been able to use a thimble. The hand quilting almost made me give up quilting. That's how I became a piecer, and happily sent them off to help the economy for the LAQ's.
But, even piecing or planning can produce "flow" - that sense of being so caught up in the moment, everything else disappers. It's a good thing.