Why does the 'c' click feel so forced when I try to link it into a sentence?

I’ve been practicing my Zulu clicks using YouTube tutorials, but whenever I try to say a word like 'icici' (earring) in a real-time conversation, I end up pausing for a full second to position my tongue. It feels like my brain is switching from a 'speaking mode' to an 'exercise mode'. Does anyone have tips on making dental clicks feel more natural in fluent speech, or should I just accept that I’ll sound robotic for the first few months?