There's a difference between a monk and the general public. I don't think desire is a problem if you are not clinging to it. It's possible to aim desire in healthy ways because if you're understanding what is a good desire and what is a bad one then those good desires should be more satisfying than denying desire altogether. There's also desire in the meditation path which I'm sure everyone sees.
Desire is mainly looking at the positive characteristics of what is desirable long enough for the desire to create motivation. By practicing looking at the three characteristics you shouldn't get to the point that you give up on life. You just let go of making anything permanent. Anger is a useful emotion if it's channelled into a positive action. Skillful fabrications like concentration are okay as long as they aren't clung to.
This is not Buddhist and comes from many self-help books, but also in practice I only feel unhealthy if I have an unhealthy desire. If I have a healthy desire it doesn't feel sick at all, in fact just the opposite. All of us have core values and desires, and to achieve them can be increased by dwelling on the benefits of the good things we desire. Procrastination comes from dwelling mainly on the negative things so we don't do it. Things that are related to virtue and success are okay to desire. It's no different from those who play sports and imagine the right moves before they get to play the game and their performance improves when they are actually playing and acting out the moves. Keep dwelling on the positive reasons for pursuing a desire (that's healthy) and do it until it gets you to act on motivation which happens if you dwell on the positive characteristics long enough. No willpower needed.
Most importantly we have many desires and what we dwell on that is more short-term (and probably useless desires) will compete with your core values. To develop dispassion for the bad habits and to dwell on the good things worth doing should help one find what is worth sacrificing and what is worth devoting time to develop good habits.
Just IMHO.

Philippians 4:8 ESV
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.