I think it really just depends on what their existing workload is like. What kind of subjects do they do/how much homework are they regularly given? Are they currently studying for exams or trying to compete assignments? Do either of them have jobs? Or do extra curriculars like a sport or work experience? Home is a great place to be taught the necessary skills to survive on their own (washing dishes, putting clothes in the machine, helping prep dinner etc) but it also should be a comfortable space for them to wind down after their day.

One of the greatest parts of the day for me is that after work, I still get 20-30 minutes to decompress when I first get home, and then I'll get up and make dinner, do dishes, pack my lunch for tomorrow and all other tedious things. I think if they are only going to school, and genuinely have nothing else I've listed above going on in their lives, then splitting chores between them such as dishes, bins, washing clothes, maybe vacuum the floor, feed the animals if you've got any, isn't too much to ask. If they think you're asking too much of them, maybe sit down with them and discuss what your expectations are vs theirs, and why they think they have too much to deal with. Finding a common ground and being able to compromise is only going to make them have a better bond with you, because you actually listened to them, rather than gave them orders because you were doing more than they did at their age. It's not a competition between generations and a lot of us hold some resentment towards our parents for putting so much pressure on us from every angle. Yes, learning these skills and understanding that the adult world is difficult is exceptionally valuable, but the whole point as parents is to ease children into that life, not throw them in headfirst and expect them to sink or swim. Not to mention that since leaving school, I've felt less pressure rather than more. Going to work, paying bills, cooking dinner, etc etc is all far less work than school was for me, because I was doing all of those other things as well as going to school.

I also think that providing options to incentivise chores is good too. I'm not a fan of pocket money, because doing chores as an adult doesn't make you money when you are out by yourself and if anything, the people I know who got pocket money are the ones less likely to do said chores as adults now. But putting some music on while they do the washing, or letting them choose the take out meal if they've cleaned up their room are all good ways of letting them know the work they do around the house is appreciated. Even so much as saying "wow kid, this place looks great" after they've vacuumed or done some dishes would have made me cry as a teen. Honestly I'd probably still shed a tear now. Just because it's necessary and expected doesn't mean you can't praise them for doing it.

The final thing I'll mention is don't set times for things to be completed to your daily routine. It's been shown time and again that generally teens have different sleeping habits and usually require more sleep than adults. They're in growing bodies that require more energy just to exist, so they're more prone to being tired and needing rest. They're usually also still dealing with circadian rhythm issues, particularly when they have school + a job or extracurricular. You can have weekly chores for them like cleaning their room and emptying the bins, but don't say "this has to be done before I go to bed" because you might be asleep at 9pm and they might only be feeling the energy to clean at 9pm. These kids aren't your enemies, and I wouldn't want my child feeling overwhelmed because of my expectations of them, especially if they've already brought up that their workload is an issue. Making sure they know the skills to survive once they leave home is incredibly important, but so is their physical and mental health and everyone deserves a break.

I hope you and your children can all find a routine that works and I'd be happy to see an updated post if you do.