Finding Purpose in Work: Why Mondays Dreaded and How to Change That

 

Do you ever feel a sinking sensation on Sunday evenings? The thought of Monday morning fills you with frustration, while Friday brings a sigh of relief—"Thank God It's Friday!" If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Many people experience this cycle, viewing work as a necessary evil rather than something meaningful.
But why does this happen?
It often boils down to a lack of deeper purpose. When work feels disconnected from something greater, it becomes a grind focused solely on personal gain—paychecks, promotions, material possessions like a big house or fancy title. These are material goals, not true purpose.
True purpose, especially at a spiritual level, is other-centered. It's about contributing to others:

• Being of help to people around you
• Respecting others
• Appreciating their efforts
• Speaking well of them

When your focus shifts from "me" to "we," life—and work—takes on new meaning. It's no longer self-centered; it's about service and impact.Bringing Purpose to the Workplace: Lessons from Taiichi OhnoThis idea of other-centered contribution applies perfectly to the workplace. One of the greatest examples comes from Taiichi Ohno, the pioneering mind behind the Toyota Production System (TPS), which revolutionized manufacturing and inspired modern lean practices worldwide.Ohno (often called the father of TPS) rose to become executive vice president at Toyota, driving the company's legendary quality and efficiency revolution.At the heart of Ohno's philosophy is the inseparable link between work and improvement (known as kaizen in Japanese—continuous improvement).Work isn't just about completing tasks; it's about making things better every day. Improvement isn't an add-on—it's the essence of the job.Ohno emphasized that every worker should constantly ask: How can this process be improved? This mindset turns routine work into purposeful contribution—better quality serves customers, reduced waste lowers costs (benefiting the company and society), and removing barriers empowers colleagues.
Some powerful insights from Ohno that capture this:

• "Without standards, there can be no improvement."
• "Progress cannot be generated when we are satisfied with existing situations."
• "Having no problems is the biggest problem of all."
• "Something is wrong if workers do not look around each day, find things that are tedious or boring, and then rewrite the procedures."

In the Toyota Production System, daily kaizen means spotting waste, solving problems, and enhancing flow—not for personal glory, but to deliver greater value to others (customers, team, and ultimately society).Your Daily Motto: Contribute Through ImprovementImagine starting each workday with this question:

• What barrier did I help remove today?
• Did I improve quality?
• Did I help decrease cost (by eliminating waste)?

This shifts your focus outward: Better processes mean happier customers, smoother teamwork, and a stronger organization. It's self-improvement through service to others.When work becomes a vehicle for continuous contribution, the Monday dread fades. Fridays are still great, but every day feels purposeful.Purpose isn't about grand achievements—it's in the daily acts of helping, respecting, and improving for the benefit of others.What small improvement can you make today? Start there, and watch how it transforms your work—and your life.