To go outside whilst off on stress leave?

[Hogwartsian]

I have recently been signed off work for stress. I live in a small town where a lot of people know each other and I regularly see people I know. AIBU to go to the shops and try to continue normal life whilst I recover? Or go for a walk in the local park to clear my head? I've heard people in the past day things like "so and so is on stress leave but I saw her in town!!" about other people. I hate the thought of people thinking I'm being suspicious/faking/taking the piss, but I can't stay inside all the time, I'll go crazy and I need to buy food!

When I got signed off with stress, DH was working on the coast and had rented a cottage to stay in, so I joined him. The cold sea air, walks on the beach and fish and chips were just what the doctor ordered!

I voted YABU, as YABU to think like this.
You are signed off of work, not life. Getting out and about will help with your recovery.

DH has been signed off for 6 months now due to stress and heading back to work very soon. Of course you go out. You do stuff that makes you happy, which includes walking in the great outdoors.

You need to do whatever you need to do to
get better. The only thing you can’t do is work. Thats it. I’m a paramedic and got signed off for a month about 10 years ago for stress. I spent the entire month learning how to tile and learnt how to tile a kitchen back splash, kitchen windowsill and bathroom sink backsplash. That task saved my life. It was so therapeutic and such a mindful task and I felt I’d achieved something. It’s difficult to describe how that task helped. I took it slow and did bits everyday. I went to a variety of tile shops and could’ve been seen. I couldn’t have cared less. (I had been involved in an incident which meant I might have been infected with hepatitis c - luckily I was not positive but was crazed with stress about it).