Getting out of the house isn't just good for your social life, it can also make you a happier, more exciting person - and you never know who you might meet!

It's Friday night - so why are you sitting on your couch in your slouchy sweats? Yes, it may be cold outside and you may have just wrapped up the workweek from hell, but those are lame excuses for having a boring night in - and they could even be the reason you're still single.

You may think it's not a big deal if you stay home, but it's actually taking a toll on your love life. As Amy Spencer, author of Meeting Your Half-Orange: An Utterly Upbeat Guide to Using Dating Optimism to Find Your Perfect Match (Running Press) explains, tonight is your chance to go out and have a good time, which will make you a happier and more interesting person. And this is what will bring you even closer to finding your "half-orange," that perfect person who complements you in life and love. "Quite simply, the more positively 'you' and happy you are, the more likely you are to naturally draw the right person straight to you," she says.

So what are you waiting for? Start 2010 off on the right note: ditch those sweats for a sexy dress, call up your girls, and get your booty out the door! Here are 8 reasons why you're making the right choice:

1. You'll feel alive!

We're all for zoning out to reality TV from time to time, but the sad truth is that you're watching other people live their lives while yours is spent on the couch. Enough already! According to Spencer, this habit is doing nothing for your brain, your heart, your body or your spirit. "Actually getting up and going out and seeing what the world has to offer will make you feel far more alive," she says.

2. You'll learn something.

"Going out" doesn't always have to mean going to a bar. Mix it up and try something new, like taking a sushi-making class, going to a wine-tasting party or exploring a new part of town. As Spencer explains, "You'll learn something new every day if you put yourself in a position to do so, and these experiences will make you a smarter, wiser, warmer and more knowledgeable person."

Story continues

Read Is Dating Harder if You're Smarter?

3. You'll make new connections.

For single girls, going out is usually all about meeting a new guy, but why not try a different strategy? Open yourself up to meeting all sorts of new people, like an interesting potential new female friend or an older, wiser gentleman. "Maybe you won't date that person," says Spencer, "but you'll gain something from them, maybe learn something about yourself, and who knows, maybe you'll find out that they have a cute son, brother or friend they want to set you up with."

4. You'll be more interesting.

If you happen to meet someone tonight, what will you talk about? How you spent last Friday home alone with your cat? We hope not! Create new story material by doing something that makes you feel just a little nervous, like rock wall climbing, or salsa dancing. Spencer suggests opting for activities that physically recreate the feelings you want to feel when you fall in love - things that make your heart race and your palms sweat. Not only will these kinds of adventures remind your body how alive you want to feel, but they'll also make a terrific story.

5. You only live once.

It's cliché, but it's true, and it's worth repeating every day. "You'll only be this age, living in this place, in the job you're in, surrounded by the friends you have, this one time," stresses Spencer. "You don't know what tomorrow will bring, so make the most of tonight."

6. You never know.

The common belief is that you find love when you're least looking for it. Maybe tonight is your night, maybe not. Either way, you're still out there, being happy, and putting yourself in the right situations. "Life brings you what you ask for," says Spencer. "And if you go into it thinking, 'Well, why not, you never know…' then life will reward you with some interesting experiences."

Read New Year's Relationship Resolutions

7. You haven't done or seen it all.

We've all been there - you feel like you've been to every single place and have met every single guy in town and none are for you. It may feel that way, but it's probably not true. It's doing the same things again and again that makes us feel like there's no point in going out, so mix it up and don't be afraid to try something new. Spencer suggests gathering some friends and writing ideas of new places to go or things you want to try on slips of paper then picking one from a hat. "Maybe you wouldn't normally set foot in the dingy pool hall on the corner, but why not make a night of finding out what it's like to?"

8. You'll make great memories.

When you're laughing and living it up with your friends you're creating lasting memories. Make the most of every opportunity you have to spend time with the people who make you smile. "Don't let a year, a month, or even this week pass you by with nothing to look back on," says Spencer. "Start making new memories about your wonderful life tonight!"

Faye Brennan is an assistant editor at BettyConfidential, and she is definitely going out tonight!

To read more from BettyConfidential:



