The main goal of optimization in Django projects is to make it fast to perform database queries by ensuring that your projects run by making the best use of system resources. Understanding how querysets work, including caching and retrieving only what's needed, can lead to better code. Optimizing database indexing, caching, select related vs prefetch related, using the bulk method, and employing RawSql can also improve performance. Foreign keys can be used to obtain data with no additional strain on the database. Monitoring database operations is crucial in production to see queries run against the database and what errors are raised, allowing for real-time error detection and troubleshooting. Django provides tools like the Django Debug toolbar for monitoring database performance, but Sentry is preferred due to its detailed trace tracks and ability to troubleshoot issues.