You can also set snapshot.auto-track to tell it not to track certain files.

Another option is to make a branch with the files that you want to keep around but not push (e.g. stuff specific to your own tooling/editor/IDE), and mark that branch as private. Private commits (and their descendants) can't be pushed.

You then make a merge commit with this branch and main, make your changes, etc. You will have to rebase before pushing so that your branch isn't a descendant of the private commit.

This will involve more work, but it has the benefit that you're actually version controlling your other files.