diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 7e308f3e..924b7700 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,23 @@
 name: plr CI
-on: [push, pull_request]
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    paths-ignore:
+    # When using the push and pull_request events, 
+    # you can, configure a workflow to run, when at least one file does not match 
+    # paths-ignore, or at least one modified file matches the configured paths.
+    - '**/*.md'
+  push:
+    paths-ignore:
+    - '**/*.md'
 jobs:
   master:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    # not restricted to specific Webhook event payloads (of "push" and "pull_request")
+    # just check the latest commit
+    if: |
+      !contains(github.event.head_commit.message, '[skip ci]') && 
+      !contains(github.event.head_commit.message, '[skip actions]') && 
+      !contains(github.event.head_commit.message, '[skip github actions]')
     steps:
       - name: Echo site details
         run: echo building master
@@ -45,6 +60,12 @@ jobs:
 
   build:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    # not restricted to specific Webhook event payloads (of "push" and "pull_request")
+    # just check the latest commit
+    if: |
+      !contains(github.event.head_commit.message, '[skip ci]') && 
+      !contains(github.event.head_commit.message, '[skip actions]') && 
+      !contains(github.event.head_commit.message, '[skip github actions]')
     env:
       PG: ${{ matrix.pg }}
     strategy:
diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index c8ba591c..7f923110 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -11,6 +11,13 @@ env:
   - PG=9.5
 
 before_script:
+  # creates a diff of all commits and exits the build if it only includes markdown files
+  - |
+      if ! git diff --name-only $TRAVIS_COMMIT_RANGE | grep -qvE '(.md$)'
+      then
+        echo "Only doc files were updated, not running the CI."
+        exit
+      fi
   - sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://apt.postgresql.org/pub/repos/apt/ $(lsb_release -cs)-pgdg main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/pgdg.list'
   - wget --quiet -O - https://www.postgresql.org/media/keys/ACCC4CF8.asc | sudo apt-key add -
   - sudo apt-get update -qq
diff --git a/appveyor.yml b/appveyor.yml
index dc94d35d..d3093d4d 100644
--- a/appveyor.yml
+++ b/appveyor.yml
@@ -1,3 +1,12 @@
+
+# Skipping commits affecting specific files (GitHub and Bitbucket only).
+skip_commits:
+  files:
+    # skipping AppVeyor build if, in the push’s head commit, all of the files 
+    # have the extension .md   
+    - '**/*.md'
+
+
 image: Visual Studio 2015
 configuration: Release
 platform: x64