From HOW TO // AI Newsletter · howtoai.com

Get Claude properly set up for real work — in under 30 minutes.

💡 How to use this template: Duplicate this page into your Notion workspace. Work through the checklist top to bottom. The whole setup takes about 30 minutes and will change how useful Claude feels within the first week.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. The 3 Claude Modes — At a Glance
  2. Step 1: Set Up Your First Project
  3. Custom Instruction Templates
  4. Step 2: Try Cowork for the First Time
  5. Mode Cheat Sheet
  6. 10 Starter Tasks to Try This Week

🗂️ The 3 Claude Modes — At a Glance

Mode Where Best For Remembers You?
Chat claude.ai or app Quick tasks, one-off requests ❌ No
Projects claude.ai (Projects tab) Ongoing work, recurring tasks ✅ Yes
Cowork Desktop app only Multi-step tasks on real files ✅ Yes

The One-Line Summary

Chat answers. Projects remembers. Cowork works.

✅ Step 1: Set Up Your First Project

Projects are Claude’s memory layer. Once set up, every conversation inside that project starts with Claude already knowing your context — no re-briefing needed.