Basecamp Async Daily Check-In

Replace disruptive status meetings with the Basecamp asynchronous daily check-in. Draft a concise end of day update and review team progress on your own schedule.

4 time blocks, 15 minutes in total.

Time blocks

Review Daily Output: 5 min
Gather completed tasks, code commits, or written drafts from today
Draft Narrative Update: 5 min
Write a short summary answering what you accomplished today
Publish Async Check-In: 2 min
Post your update to the team board or communication platform
Scan Colleague Updates: 3 min
Read recent posts from teammates and leave brief non-urgent notes

About this routine

Basecamp cofounders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson introduced the Basecamp asynchronous daily check-in to eliminate status meetings. Instead of gathering everyone on a call at a fixed time, team members receive an automated prompt at the end of their day asking what they worked on.

This approach gives remote workers deep uninterrupted focus during the day while keeping team members informed across different time zones. Writing down progress encourages clear reflection on actual output rather than hours logged.

The check-in takes fifteen minutes at the close of your workday. By documenting completed tasks and briefly reviewing updates from colleagues, you maintain team alignment without breaking your flow.

Why this routine works

Protects long stretches of uninterrupted deep work
Keeps remote teams aligned across multiple time zones
Encourages clear self reflection on daily achievements
Eliminates unnecessary status meetings and schedule fragmentation

FAQ

What is the Basecamp daily check-in?

It is an automated end of day prompt created by Basecamp where team members post a brief written summary of what they accomplished, replacing live status meetings.

What time should you complete an asynchronous check-in?

Complete the check-in during the final fifteen minutes of your workday before logging off.

How long does a Basecamp daily check-in take?

A check-in takes fifteen minutes. Using a daily routine timer can help you spend five minutes reviewing your work, five minutes writing your update, two minutes posting, and three minutes reading colleague posts.

Sources

Remote: Office Not Required, Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson
It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work, Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson
Basecamp Employee Handbook, 37signals