How to Get the Most from Claude

Claude uses tokens (think of them as credits) every time you send a message. Longer conversations, bigger files, and more powerful models all use more. These 9 habits keep you fast and efficient.

Before you start

Shrink Your Files

PDFs and screenshots eat tokens fast. Copy-paste the text into a plain file instead. Crop images to only what matters.

Smaller file = fewer credits burned.

Plan First. Build Last.

Don't start with "make me a spreadsheet." Use chat to figure out what you want. Once it's clear, then build the file.

Think cheap. Build expensive.

Say "Ask Me Questions"

Stop writing 500-word prompts. Add: "Ask me questions before you start." Then click the options Claude gives you.

Clicking costs almost nothing. Typing costs a lot.

While you're working

Edit, Don't Resend

Made a mistake? Don't send a new message. Hit Edit on your old one. Fix it. Regenerate. The old version gets replaced, not stacked.

Every "no wait, I meant..." makes your chat more expensive.

Start Fresh Every 15–20 Messages

Long chats get expensive fast. Every new message re-reads the entire history. After 15–20 messages: ask for a summary. Copy it. Start a new chat. Paste it in.

Short chats = cheap chats.

Pick the Right Model

Haiku	Quick tasks, simple questions (fast, cheap)
Sonnet	Code, charts, everyday work (middle ground)
Opus	Writing, reports, strategy (smart, costly)

Don't use a bulldozer to plant a flower.

System habits

Use Projects for Recurring Files

Stop uploading the same file to every chat. Put it in a Project once. Every chat inside that Project can see it.

Upload once. Use forever.

Turn Off What You Don't Need

Web search, connectors, extended thinking - all use credits. Even when you don't need them. If you're just writing, turn them off.

Only pay for what you're using right now.

Batch + Spread Your Day

Don't burn everything in one morning. Claude resets on a rolling 5-hour window. Work in 2–3 sessions across the day. Put 3 tasks in 1 message, not 3 messages.

By the time you're back, your limit has rolled off.

How usage works on your plan

Your Teams plan gives each person roughly 1.25x more usage per session than a personal Pro account. Usage resets on a rolling 5-hour window - not daily. If you hit a limit, you're locked out for up to 3 hours. The habits above keep that from happening. If it does happen, switch to a shorter conversation or a lighter model (Haiku) while you wait.