Physical appearances matter. Ideally they wouldn't but the cold truth is that human beings tend to make snap judgments about everything based on first impressions -- and it feels wrong to do so. "The inside is more important than the outside," right? Well, our physical appearances actually say a lot about us and it's important that we don’t neglect that aspect of our humanity.

Not that physical beauty is an indicator of moral purity or personality -- no one should ever judge another person's worth as a human being based on their outer skin. But at the same time, that shouldn't be an excuse not to take care of ourselves in terms of hygiene, appearance, personal growth, and ultimately self-esteem. This joke hits the point home:

Q. What do you call a man who dresses nicely and takes care of himself?

A. A grown up.

Men, there are some great subreddits on Reddit where you can find others just like you and me who are working to be the best men that they can be. I'm currently going through this transformation myself and I will never look back. What about you?

/r/nutrition & /r/fitness

reddit-fitness

Your health, both mental and physical, is one of the most important things to watch. There are the big health sins that should be avoided when possible -- like excessive drinking and smoking -- but there are also more subtle activities that could have long-lasting impact on your health, like not sleeping enough, eating too much processed food, or sitting in front of a computer all day. (Guilty as charged.)

The quickest and most effective way to improve both physical energy and mental clarity is by eating healthier. Not that you need to be a rabbit and eat salad 3 times a day, but even something as simple as cutting out soda can have drastic results. /r/nutrition is a good place to start if you haven’t given it much thought before and with the aid of certain websites, eating healthy can be easy.

Exercise is also important. Our bodies were meant to move around and do things. You don’t even have to lift heavy weights or run for miles; just a brisk jog for 20 minutes a day can be extremely beneficial. Check /r/fitness for more on that.

/r/malefashionadvice

reddit-malefashionadvice

Two years ago, my wardrobe consisted of nothing more than white t-shirts, hoodies, and baggy jeans. I was 23 years old back then but strangers often mistook me for being 15 years old or younger! A quick change to my wardrobe was enough to help me look more my age.

Fashion doesn’t have to be about runways and flashy colors. On the contrary, it's all about wearing clothes that fit properly and developing a personal sense of style that exhibits your personality. Slim jeans and t-shirts? Sure. Leather and chains? Okay. Drop-crotch and sneakers? Go for it. But make sure your clothes fit!

/r/malefashionadvice has exploded in popularity over the past year and still more newcomers arrive every day. There are plenty of style veterans who give out great advice on sizing, colors, materials, prices, etc. Don't be afraid to take the plunge. You won’t regret it.

This is just one of many subreddits for men's style. After you’ve settled in, check out these men's fashion forums and male fashion blogs.

/r/malehairadvice

reddit-malehairadvice

The next step after fitness and fashion? Hair! Hair can single-handedly alter the way you look, sometimes so radically that you appear to be a different person altogether. There’s more complexity to male hairstyles than a simple choice between shaved and rockstar.

I used to shave my head every 2 months using just an electric clipper. It was easy, it was fast, and it was convenient. That last word -- "convenience" -- seems to be the drive behind most male hair these days. Any sort of maintenance is viewed as being metrosexual, which is far from the case.

Hair maintenance doesn’t have to be elaborate. Just cut it in a particular style and wash it regularly. The /r/malehairadvice subreddit will help you find a good style that won’t just fit your face but emphasize and enhance it.

/r/malelivingspace

reddit-malelivingspace

The last thing you ought to maintain with passion is your living space. Depending on the content, some people call it the "man cave" and others call it a "bachelor pad," but one thing’s for sure: a messy home can have a negative impact on your mental state in addition to being embarrassing when guests are over.

But /r/malelivingspace is about more than just dusting off your home and making it presentable. It’s about transforming your living space into one that you’ll love. It’s about organization, aesthetics, and synergy. Whether you’re living in a dorm or with a family, there’s a lot of good stuff to learn here.

Now, what about you? Do you care enough about your holistic health? Tell us what you think about these subreddits (or any other), and any great tips you have come across.

Image Credit: Beach Running Via Shutterstock, Stylish Man Via Shutterstock, Nice Hair Man Via Shutterstock, Living Space Via Shutterstock