In the context of brain psychology, short-term needs to be seconds to minutes. For example try to train a dog with rewards that come an hour later. It won't work.

In the example that I gave, you brush your teeth, your mouth feels better right away. That works.

By contrast if you start working on your project now, next week you won't have a miserable all-nighter. That doesn't work. Just ask anyone in college if you doubt me.

That is why a monthly feedback cycle did not prove to be successful motivation here.

Gamify anti-poverty programs?

I wonder though, isn't forgoing small short-term rewards for greater long-term rewards a key aspect of escaping poverty? How can you condition that behavior with short-term rewards?

That's a good question, and I don't have a good answer.

But well-off people that I know manage to forgo short-term rewards by having an internal counteracting short-term reward in line with the desired long-term reward. Maybe this is a teachable skill..?

This article suggests that delayed gratification can be taught ...

https://tomprof.stanford.edu/posting/1182