Not in regards to quilting, but for any skill set, a fairly good book is "Outliers." In it the author goes over how much practice it takes to learn a skill. It is true.
Just keep practicing, practicing, and practicing. Keep notes of what works best for you so you can review them later if you don't use the skill for awhile.
For some small projects I have left my feed dogs up. Usually I put them down. Because of my arthritis I have used many aids for FMQ. What is working best for me right now is The Fabulous Fabric Glide. I can hold it without having to bear down with any force at all. Gloves, a halo, and other things just don't work well for me.
Make it fun. Reward yourself for each step of the way.
ali