You limited the scope of your article to activities that have delayed and guaranteed dopamine. Unfortunately, most activities these days carry both a delayed and potential dopamine.

That changes our attitude completely.

In your examples, you use exercise. Exercise brings in guaranteed dopamine. Hardly anyone questions its benefits. So these psychological tricks are useful.

Now how about taking out large loans to go to an elite school for the chance of getting a job?

Or working 80 hours a week for the chance at a promotion?

Or taking someone out on a date for the chance at intimacy?

In my opinion, this is where the real problems start. Nothing is guaranteed in these scenarios so one needs to the think carefully before investing his valuable resources because no psychological trick will shield you from the risks that lie ahead.