diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 527b15ec..f78ee1f1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -202,5 +202,5 @@ jobs:
           jobs: ${{ toJSON(needs) }}
 
       - name: Approve pr if all jobs succeeded
-        if: contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'auto-approval')
+        if: contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'auto-approval') && contains(github.actor, '[bot]')
         uses: hmarr/auto-approve-action@v4
diff --git a/.github/workflows/renovate.yml b/.github/workflows/renovate.yml
index 1c453de2..2007af0e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/renovate.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/renovate.yml
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ name: Renovate
 
 on:
   schedule:
-    # * is a special character in YAML so you have to quote this string
-    - cron: '*/15 0-3 * * 1'
+    # Match renovate schedule:earlyMondays and schedule:automergeMonthly
+    - cron: '* 0-3 * * *'
   workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs:
diff --git a/.renovaterc.json b/.renovaterc.json
index dd89a2be..c784bf85 100644
--- a/.renovaterc.json
+++ b/.renovaterc.json
@@ -11,13 +11,20 @@
   "platformAutomerge": true,
   "packageRules": [
     {
+      "automerge": true,
+      "addLabels": [
+        "auto-approval"
+      ],
+      "extends": [
+        "schedule:earlyMondays",
+        "schedule:automergeMonthly"
+      ],
       "matchUpdateTypes": [
         "minor",
         "patch",
         "pin",
         "digest"
-      ],
-      "automerge": true
+      ]
     },
     {
       "matchDepTypes": [
@@ -76,7 +83,6 @@
       "description": "Group renovate docker tag and pre-commit-hooks tag",
       "groupName": "renovate group",
       "addLabels": [
-        "auto-approval",
         "renovate"
       ],
       "matchDatasources": [
diff --git a/template/.renovaterc.json.jinja b/template/.renovaterc.json.jinja
index 9d810596..4252cca8 100644
--- a/template/.renovaterc.json.jinja
+++ b/template/.renovaterc.json.jinja
@@ -13,13 +13,20 @@
   "platformAutomerge": true,
   "packageRules": [
     {
+      "automerge": true,
+      "addLabels": [
+        "auto-approval"
+      ],
+      "extends": [
+        "schedule:earlyMondays",
+        "schedule:automergeMonthly"
+      ],
       "matchUpdateTypes": [
         "minor",
         "patch",
         "pin",
         "digest"
-      ],
-      "automerge": true
+      ]
     },
 [%- if repo_name == 'ss-pybind11' %]
     {
@@ -80,9 +87,6 @@
       "description": "Group renovate docker tag and pre-commit-hooks tag",
       "groupName": "renovate group",
       "addLabels": [
-[%- if repo_platform == 'github' %]
-        "auto-approval",
-[%- endif %]
         "renovate"
       ],
       "matchDatasources": [
diff --git a/template/[% if repo_platform == 'github' %].github[% endif %]/workflows/ci.yml.jinja b/template/[% if repo_platform == 'github' %].github[% endif %]/workflows/ci.yml.jinja
index ab55b020..d724d0c4 100644
--- a/template/[% if repo_platform == 'github' %].github[% endif %]/workflows/ci.yml.jinja	
+++ b/template/[% if repo_platform == 'github' %].github[% endif %]/workflows/ci.yml.jinja	
@@ -212,5 +212,5 @@ jobs:
           jobs: {{ '${{ toJSON(needs) }}' }}
 
       - name: Approve pr if all jobs succeeded
-        if: contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'auto-approval')
+        if: contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'auto-approval') && contains(github.actor, '[bot]')
         uses: hmarr/auto-approve-action@v4
diff --git a/template/[% if repo_platform == 'github' %].github[% endif %]/workflows/renovate.yml.jinja b/template/[% if repo_platform == 'github' %].github[% endif %]/workflows/renovate.yml.jinja
index 69809a79..c1a8b179 100644
--- a/template/[% if repo_platform == 'github' %].github[% endif %]/workflows/renovate.yml.jinja	
+++ b/template/[% if repo_platform == 'github' %].github[% endif %]/workflows/renovate.yml.jinja	
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ name: Renovate
 
 on:
   schedule:
-    # * is a special character in YAML so you have to quote this string
-    - cron: '*/15 0-3 * * 1'
+    # Match renovate schedule:earlyMondays and schedule:automergeMonthly
+    - cron: '* 0-3 * * *'
   workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs: