COVID-19 has, suddenly, seismically shifted the way we live our lives.

For many of us, free movement and social interplay continue to be subject to ongoing lockdown restrictions. As a result, we are cooped up together for weeks and possibly even months.

Siloed living isn’t a choice. We all know how critical it is to save countless lives and put a brake on infection rates. But, for cohabiting family or friends, lockdown throws up all kinds of testing challenges.

Given these ongoing pressures, how do families and households stay co-operative and conflict-free? How do you and your cohabitants find a way to get what you want without raising hackles and kicking off a civil war? Applying a few negotiation skills may well be the answer.

Here are seven easy ways to use negotiation technique to make lockdown life more tolerable for everyone.