Learn Claude in 5 Days: A Day-by-Day Setup Plan

Each step takes under 30 minutes. Time savings depend on your work, but most people notice the difference by Day 3.

Day 1 — Set up the basics

• Pick where you'll use Claude: the chat app for everyday work, Claude Code if you build software.
• Turn on memory if your plan offers it.
• In your preferences, write 3–5 lines about who you are: *"I run a renovation company in Jamaica. Keep answers short and practical. Use JMD."*

Result: Claude knows who it's talking to.

Day 2 — Build your first Project

• Create a Project for your most common type of work.
• Write the instructions once (tone, format, what to always include).
• Upload reference files: price list, templates, past examples.

Result: Claude knows your context before you say a word.

Day 3 — Build your first skill

A skill is a saved procedure Claude follows every time — for example *"write a quote in our format"*.

• Find Skills in Claude's settings, or simply ask Claude: *"Help me turn this task into a skill."*
• Describe the task step by step, with an example of a good result.

Result: write it once; Claude runs it the same way every time.

Day 4 — Connect your tools

Connect Gmail, Google Drive or Slack under Connectors in settings. Then ask Claude to work with them directly: *"Find last week's supplier emails and list what I owe."*

Result: no more copying and pasting between tabs.

Day 5 — Delegate recurring work

Set up a scheduled task, like a weekly summary of your inbox or a daily brief of priorities. Claude runs it and delivers the result.

Result: it stops being a tool and starts being a system.

After day 5

Pick one repetitive task a week and turn it into a skill or scheduled task.

Menu names change as features evolve — the Claude Help Center has current steps.